By sharing his experiences as an addict Paul Bateman (55) hopes his story will deter others from going down the same road.
He started experimenting with drugs at age 16.
“I started using cannabis. That later led to hard drugs. I thought I would be able to stop. But addiction doesn’t work that way.” The Johannesburg native is now a resident at Innovation for the Blind in Worcester.
After the cannabis he started using acid and LSD.
“I was oblivious to its effects. I was a Polysubstance abuser, and I preferred the opioids.”
Polysubstance is the use of multiple drugs at the same time. This led to Bateman suffering an overdose when he was 26.
“I was using a drug that was prescribed to treat terminal cancer patients. I overdosed in the bathroom of a hotel room in Johannesburg. I don’t know how long I was lying there before I was found. I was in a coma for three weeks.”
It is because of the effects of the overdose that his eyesight badly deteriorated. Before this life-altering event he attended three rehabilitation facilities but didn’t stay clean. While in the coma his body automatically went through withdrawals from his heavy drug use.
“I suffered brain damage due to lack of oxygen while I was out cold, and it ultimately affected my eyesight. I can see colours and movement, the rest my brain can’t comprehend.”
Naturally, the first thought he had when coming out of the coma was to get high, but he didn’t go back to his old ways and has been clean for 30 years.
What saved him after the coma was a group of young people he had met, Bateman added.
“They would take me to church with them. In that period I saw so much of what I could have been doing with my life. I saw they had peace. They were content and happy, and seemed to have a place in the world.”
He also attributed his recovery to the support of his family.
“I am lucky to have a supportive family. My sister is the one who decided I should come and live here. In the place I was previously there was nothing to keep me busy or my mind occupied. Here we have a structure. We also have a men’s group that regularly meets, and it has been a great help for me.”
Although sad for the various losses he suffered while being an addict, Bateman added, he is also grateful for everything he has gained.
“For one, I’m alive. Through the years I’ve had lots of opportunities to earn my money legally, but drugs just waste your brain. Addiction is a full-time job. I’ve been arrested a couple of times and spent some time in jail. I was beaten up a lot for breaking into people’s cars.”
Bateman’s interest now is helping people. He published a book in 2006 about his journey.
“The book is called The million rand teaspoon. Once, while living in Durban, my parents came to visit. The flat was empty, except for a towel we were sleeping on. The only other thing we had was a teaspoon we were using to cook drugs. The amount in the title refers to the money I’ve spent on drugs. Addiction is not cheap.”
After joining the men’s group, which is presented by Irvin Barry, a social auxiliary worker at Innovation for the blind, Bateman has felt compelled to share his journey and serve as a living warning sign.
“I know first-hand how lousy addiction is. I just want to help people wake up and realise there is a whole life out there to be lived drug-free.”
Stephné Botha, CEO of Innovation for the blind, said Bateman’s book would be translated into Afrikaans and will be available soon.
