Drug addiction doesn't discriminate against anyone. But unfortunately for our celebrities it plays out in public and their struggles often make headlines.                    Gibson Manick Kistan from Tranquillity, a rehabilitation clinic that has assisted many celebs with their drug battle, what leads to celebs doing drugs is peer pressure.    "in most cases celebritities tend to feel they have to be on drugs to nurse their broken souls. They have to live up to a certain lifestyle and want to be seen as cool. Their egos are unable to cope and the getaway place is drugs. Even when they are emotionally broken, they are unable to share their stories with anyone because they are scared of being judged, so drugs are easily accessible with all the money coming through."

KICKING THE HABIT

These are some of the local celebs who saw it was high time they changed their lives and stop using drugs. They've been sobered up for years and are inspiring others to do the same as they know how drugs can ruin one's life.

Kabelo Mabalane

Kabelo Mabalane of TKZee fame has been open about his struggles with drugs. He said it started with marijuana and alcohol before snorting cocaine. He once revealed that he spent about R2 million to feed his addiction. He lived like a rock star. His overdose on cocaine landed him in hospital. Were it not for his friends rushing him to hospital, we would be telling a different stor ytoday. This was his wake-up call to change his ways. Now he has been clean for about 20 years and is a respectable family man who leads a clean and impactful life

Trevor Gumbi

It might not be an easy subject to address but Trevor Gumbi is now comfortable to reflect on his life before he was sober. The comedian even laughs about it as it is all in the past. He admitted that it's thanks to his family and comedy that he managed to overcome his addiction. He started taking his poison in 2000 and he was still on it in 2010. It is not clear when he kicked the habit but by 2015 Trevor was all about family and said his mind is clearer.

Zahara

The pressures of the entertainment industry had Zahara, real name Bulelwa Mtukutana, drown her worries in alcohol. In an interview with Somizi Mhlongo she admitted to abusing alcohol because she was worried that her music might not get the same praise and adoration as before. However, she realised that her music was more about about inspiration and giving hope.

Vusi Nova

The passing of his mother made Vusi Nova to find something to ease the pain and cope with losing a loved one. He alternated cocaine and mandrax due to their effects. Cocaine made him hyper and mandrax helped him fall asleep. He admitted that he blew R900K in about 10 months on drugs. Changing the company he kept that helped him kick the habit.