Young and old took the stand to voice their views about the drug problem in Tsakane.
The dialogue session was also blessed by the presence of Love Life representatives, the police and a representative from the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) and the Treatment Action Campaign.
High school learners from different schools in and around Tsakane also got the opportunity to talk and ask questions concerning drugs.
Mazola Orsborn Makola, Grade7 learner at Geluksdal Secondary School said drugs are the main cause of huge learner absentism from school especially on Fridays.
“The addicts do not attend school on Fridays, saying that they enjoy their teenage days and start partying from the morning on Fridays,” said Orsborn.
He said some of the learners on drugs come from families with alcohol and drugs addicts.
He said he believes that the teenagers’ behaviour is influenced by the behaviour that they see from their parents and other family members.
Speaking on behalf of the youth development programme, Tebogo Mokoena said they saw the need to involve teenagers in the dialogue to hear about their views and suggestions to help fight against drugs and alcohol abuse.
“We need to understand the feeling of young people in order to fight and win against drugs,” said Tebogo.
