Concerned local people have begun to tackle substance abuse in schools. Gadra Advice, along with the Department of Social Development, has initiated a Local Drug Action Committee which aims to address the issue of substance abuse in town, and especially in schools.
Concerned local people have begun to tackle substance abuse in schools. Gadra Advice, along with the Department of Social Development, has initiated a Local Drug Action Committee which aims to address the issue of substance abuse in town, and especially in schools.
“We do it on a local level, and there are provincial and national levels as well. There hasn’t been one in Grahamstown before,” said committee chairperson Carol Johnson.
The committee represents various community stakeholders, such as local schools, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, as well as the departments of Health and Education.
“Our goal is to plan activities for International Day Against Drug Abuse (26 June), such as marches, which will send a message to dealers,” said Johnson.
“We also aim to start a Teens Against Drugs programme which will empower the youth. “Peer pressure is the main reason kids get involved with drugs, so we will help the older students to spread the message and to organise alcohol and drugfree schooling events.”
“At Kingswood, they have started doing random drug testing, and they have life skills programmes to teach the kids about substance abuse.
They are taking a proactive approach,” said Johnson. Nozibele Nombombo, a student counsellor at TEM Mrwetyana Senior Secondary School, expressed her concern over substance abuse among students and the Teens Against Drugs programme.
“We have a big problem with alcohol in the school, and the students don’t want to listen to each other. We do counsel the students, but sometimes we have to refer them to psychologists.”
Leon Ngeju, acting chairman at Amasango, said there was a big problem with substance abuse in their school. “Some students, as young as ten or 12, have been implicated for drug use.
We want to organise someone to come to the school to talk to the students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.”
“Nobody has actually put together any statistics regarding substance abuse in Grahamstown, so this is something the committee aims to address,” said Johnson.
“We’ve seen young kids using alcohol, cannabis, tik and prescription drugs, and many kids in the township use water pipes, which leads to more drug use, because they will often use cannabis in these instead of tobacco.”
Alaric Hein, vice chair of the committee and a member of Narcotics Anonymous, confirms ubstance abuse in Grahamstown.
“It is farreaching. It spans through all walks of life and has most definitely become worse over the years,” he said.
“The people who sell drugs have no moral standpoint. They are in it to make money.” Hein explained that the committee wants to target the entire town, but is starting with schools to prepare young people for possible drug temptations in the future.
Johnson explained that part of the problem with substance abuse among children is parents. “Parents need to remember that gnorance is not bliss.
“They need to know about drugs and they need to talk openly about the subject with their children,” she said.The committee of 27 members first met on 23 April and a steering committee was elected.
“We were very excited to have such a great response, and we are hoping to find a representative from Rhodes,” said Johnson. “We’ve got to start somewhere, so let’s bring action against substance abuse into Grahamstown.”
