If you kept crying for shows about authentic South African realities then SABC2 has heard your plea. No more fabricated realities of lives none of us live. No more waking up with make-up properly applied or any unnecessary drama.
Addictions: From Hell and Back comes to the rescue as it gives South Africans a look at a different face of the country, one we don’t want to deal with, and that is our vices. They can be drugs, alcohol or even sex, the fact remains that South Africa suffers a cancer of various addictions, especially among our youth.
“Addictions: To Hell and Back is a six-part reality series with an unapologetic tone that brings to the forefront the hell addicts go through to gain liberation from their addictions,” said Lesiamo Khoali, the show’s commissioning editor.
Viewers will follow six addicts with lifestyle addictions and see how they attempt to overcome their vices.
“The series lets viewers in on the emotions and experiences the addicts endure as they go through the tried and tested 12-step process of rehabilitation used at rehabilitation centres around the world,” explained Khoali.
Although South African society is aware of addiction issues, nothing official really gets done. There are a large number of reported criminal acts as a result of drug abuse. This show sets itself up as a platform for debate where people can talk about these issues.
“One of the objectives of the programme was to start a conversation with regards to the issue of drugs and rehabilitation,” Khoali said.
“What inspired it was that South Africa is a country hit by a drug tsunami. One of the objectives of the SABC as a public broadcaster is to address issues that disturb the normal functioning of the South African society. Drug abuse is one such problem and through such shows the SABC does its bit in the fight against drugs,” he said.
On the surface this idea seems like just another boring, overdone subject, but the reality is that you are likely to be related to or know someone who needs professional help for their addiction.
Although Khoali speaks mostly on drugs, Addictions: From Hell and Back looks at all vices.
“We are aiming at nation building and this programme contributes significantly to that. Drugs are not just the user’s problem, they affect the entire family unit,” he said.
“Addictions: From Hell and Back has content that is current, relevant and addresses what is presently a national problem,” he said.
“It also defies stereotypes when it comes to ‘things that one can be addicted to’ and ‘who can be an addict’,” he concluded.
• Addictions: From Hell and Back airs every Sunday at 9pm on SABC2.