By Palesa Mofoti
The United Nations declared 26 June as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit trafficking. The theme for 2023 is “People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention”
Many families in the country are battling the increasing scourge of drug use amongst the youth.
Modiehi Mncananyana, a Social Worker at the Dept of Social Development, described the detrimental effects caused by drug abuse in society and the measures needed to curb the scourge.
The Department of Social Development offers various services including community-based, early intervention and prevention.
A sixteen-member team of coaches called Ke Moja (loosely translated as “I’m fine without drugs), working with auxiliary workers in the Francis Baard district, are often called to intervene.
These coaches are equipped with school-based programs, prevention and early identification of drug use. They visit schools, churches, clinics and participate in awareness programs. Auxiliary workers are responsible for the screening process.
“If a family or a school reports that someone or a child was found in possession of drugs, we don’t take it at face. To ascertain the reality refer the matter to the Police because we operate within the constitutional framework,” lamented Mncananyana.
According to Mncananyana, the socio-economic factors are the main contributors that force people to engage in recreational drugs under the impression that the stress will be less. “Research also shows that people diagnosed with mental problems who do not take the prescribed treatment regularly are prone to substance abuse,” she highlighted.
She added, “the most challenging part about having a person addicted to drugs in the house is that they are destructive, break windows, become violent, yell at people, neglect themselves and their children if they are a parent.”
“There is an increase in women involved in a combination of drugs such as mandrax, tik and nyaope. However, many cases reported to the Department are of young men from the age of thirteen and children bullied into selling at school or forced to use drugs if they refuse. The most commonly found drugs in communities are tik and dagga”, she stated.
She explained that out of 42 active drug abuse cases handled by Social Workers, 10 are mothers the rest are young males.
Her concern is that they rehabilitate people at their facilities, thereafter the user returns to the same environment when discharged. She appeals to stakeholders to come on board and assist with providing a safety net for the users.
Through their aftercare programs and bursaries for those who wish to finish their education and study further, the Department offers skills development opportunities to individuals who have completed their sobriety journey.
Parents or community members are requested to contact the Dept of Social Development should they suspect that a person is a drug user.
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