SANCA Horizon says no to alcohol and drugs in Actonville
The awareness campaign was held in the area following concerns over the amount of crime sparked by substance abuse.
SANCA Horizon held a drug and substance abuse awareness event on April 28, in Actonville, outside Mary Moodley Clinic.
Members from the City of Ekurhuleni, African Youth Development Fund (AYDF), iLanga Dropping Centre, Nonstikelelo Dropping Centre, Actonville SAPS as well as community members attended the event.
According to Maria Rathaga, SANCA awareness and prevention coordinator, the awareness event was aimed to educate the public about drug and substance abuse due to the amount of crime occurring in the community as a result of substance abuse.
“We chose Actonville because some people were not aware that we also provide services to this area as SANCA Horizon.
“We run the campaigns every month in collaboration with AYDF as part of the Ke Moja alternatives program to raise awareness in communities about the effects substance abuse has on their bodies.
“We also encourage those suffering from addiction to be rehabilitated because our services are free,” Rathaga said.
During the event, Dicken Nkuna, a social worker from the City of Ekurhuleni, encouraged people to say no to drugs.
“People who use drugs most of the time get involved in criminal activities to feed their addiction.
“We advise people who know of someone who is abusing drugs to refer them to a local rehabilitation facility to keep our community drug-free.
“We want everyone to participate in such initiatives so that drug problems in communities can be disseminated,” said Nkuna.
Another speaker, Thokozani Khoza, a recovering drug addict, told attendees it’s possible to stop drugs.
“If you tell yourself that you want to quit drugs, you will – only if you are committed because it is difficult.
“I was using drugs for eight years but I decided to quit after I became tired. I just wanted my life back to normal.
“I want to emphasise that people should stop judging drug addicts because judging them will not help overcome their addiction, instead they should support them to get into a rehabilitation centre,” said Khoza.
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