Turning the Tide on Drugs in Mpumalanga
After overcoming addiction, Morgan Bruiners now leads a grass-roots movement, bringing drug education and prevention to thousands of South African youth.
In a lively classroom at Nasaret Combined School in Middelburg, South Africa, community leader Morgan Bruiners stands before a captivated audience of students holding a Truth About Drugs booklet. This is the same school where he once imagined a future of leadership. Today, that future has become a reality—not only for him, but for the thousands he has empowered.
Bruiners is the founder of Nasaret Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse (NADA) and one of the most dedicated drug prevention advocates in his province.
He grew up in a close-knit community grounded in education and responsibility. He knew from a young age he was meant to lead. In high school, peer pressure introduced him to alcohol and later to drugs. Substance abuse caused setbacks in his early career and strained personal relationships. “My life was falling apart and it really, really hit rock bottom,” says Bruiners.
The turning point came when he recognized the impact of his choices—not only on his future, but on those who believed in him. “I lost friends who no longer wanted to be associated with me. I lost family members—they turned their backs on me because of my addiction.” Driven by determination and faith, he chose a different path. He left drugs behind and committed himself to serving others.
In June 2012, he founded NADA with a clear mission: to confront the escalating drug crisis affecting Middelburg youth. The organization began with a march through the community, alerting families to addiction realities and offering a place to seek help. The response confirmed his fears—the problem was far larger than many wanted to admit. “Our youth are the future of this nation—and they are being destroyed by drugs every day.”
To reach young people effectively, Bruiners searched for a prevention-based educational approach. That search led him to the Truth About Drugs materials, which enabled his team to enter schools and empower students with factual information.
His first seminar took place at Nasaret Combined School, where he guided students through the dangers of drugs and the long-term consequences of their use. Returning to his former school added weight to his purpose. “We are bringing the truth so that learners will not do drugs in the first place,” he says. “This is the way I’m giving back to my school.”
The impact was immediate. One student later stopped smoking hookah after the seminar. She realized others were watching and following her example. Other students approached Bruiners after seminars, thanking him for the guidance that came in time.
“I lost friends who no longer wanted to be associated with me. I lost family members—they turned their backs on me because of my addiction.”
Collaboration is key to Bruiners’ success. He has built partnerships with the South African Police Service, the Departments of Education and Health, local churches and NGOs—uniting them around a shared mission. Church seminars, school assemblies and public library events serve as platforms for his message.
His purpose remains unwavering: to safeguard the future of Mpumalanga’s youth. “I believe there was a lesson for me to learn so I could sit here today, tell my story and go out there to save a life,” says Bruiners. “I want to be remembered as someone who gave everything to reach people and change lives where there was once no hope. I take it upon myself to ensure that the Truth About Drugs reaches every community.”
Bruiners proves every day that education—delivered with passion and conviction—can save lives. Watch his journey from personal struggle to leadership at Scientology.TV/MBruiners.
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