Stopping a substance abuse scourge starts in our schools

SUBSTANCE abuse programmes will kick-off at schools next week, after Drug Awareness Week was marked around the country this week.

The event is an SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) initiative aimed at creating awareness around drug and substance abuse.

The World Health Organisation found about 15% of South Africans suffered from drug abuse in 2015.

The provincial education department’s Safe Schools substance abuse programme will, during the school holidays, equip teachers with information on drug detection techniques, peer counselling and specialised fields of drug control.

“The key goal of the project is to capacitate educators with the tool of drug testing to ensure that learners who experiment with substances are detected early and that they will be placed in developmental programmes to address the abuse of substances, improve the performance of the identified schools through targeted assistance and provide support to schools,” said Jessica Shelver, Education MEC Debbie Schäfer’s spokesperson.

Children as young as six are experimenting with drugs, non-profit counselling centre Hope House counselling centre says.

Founder and child counsellor Judy Strickland said to understand the consequences of drug use, parents, teachers and pupils need to know the impact of substances on the brain.

“Studies have found that drug and alcohol use damages children’s growing brains; sometimes permanently. Many drugs effect an area called the pre-frontal cortex, which is involved in decision-making, social behaviour and learning,” Strickland said.

The Saartjie Baartman Centre is also raising awareness this week around the link between intimate partner violence and substance use.

About 80% of women arriving at the centre, seeking emergency shelter from abusive partners, test positive for drugs. Since establishing its substance abuse treatment wing last year, the centre has helped about 70 women to leave abusive relationships and seek assistance for addiction.

Concerned parents and schools can contact Hope House on 0845807298; the WCEDs hotline on 0800 45 46 47 for counselling support and assistance; Sanca’s national line 0861472622; or the Saartjie Baartman Centre on 0216335287 for help.