Joburg based author of 18 Year an Addict, Anne Lapedus Brest offers a vital perspective during SANCA Drug Awareness Week (22 – 27 June), where the focus is not only on addiction itself but on the families who carry its weight in silence.
“I admit that over the years, I had wondered if Greg would ever clean up, because after eighteen years of the same behaviour, the same pattern, the same attitude, the same stance, it was getting harder and harder to be positive. I felt so helpless and hopeless, and yes, on the cusp of negativity. I was in South Africa, Gregory was in the US. There were miles and miles between us, and when he got back [to South Africa] he just didn’t want to clean up.”
In 18 Years an Addict, Joburg photographer, writer and genealogist Anne Lapedus Brest writes, with unflinching honesty, about the emotional, physical, and spiritual toll of loving a child battling addiction. For nearly two decades, Anne lived in the shadow of her son Greg’s dependency — enduring fear, frustration, distance, and the heartbreak of relapse. She writes about what it means to parent a child trapped in addiction, the emotional, financial, and psychological toll on families, the stigma and silence that prevent families from seeking help, and the impossible choices parents face between love and boundaries.
The memoir also explores the role of the 12-step programme, a structured, community-based approach first developed by Alcoholics Anonymous and now widely used in drug rehabilitation. The programme provides a framework for understanding addiction, taking responsibility, repairing harm, and building a sustainable life in recovery.
Greg’s turning point came in January 2019 when he decided to clean up his life for good. He promised, no more lies, no more secrets, total transparency. He finally committed to recovery with the support of a sponsor.
On 18 January 2026, Greg Brest celebrated seven years clean and serene—a milestone that anchors this story of resilience, surrender, and the power of hope. Reach Publishers, R280.
The book is available here – www.jdoubledpublicity.co.za
