The city council had noted with concern that substance abuse was a growing social problem and, in a bid to bolster its anti-drug message, has turned to social media to harness communication – particularly with the youth.
“We are trying to open a conversation with young people through the various means of communication… the young people of today don’t read papers like us… they are technologically savvy; they are on Facebook, Mxit, Twitter and Whatsapp,” said the city council’s deputy director of the social benefits unit, Aletta Mzimele.
She said the city council would use online communication such as Facebook and Twitter and its website to promote campaigns and programmes being held throughout the city, as well as provide the information of community-based organisations that deal with drug-related issues.
Furthermore, people who were seeking help regarding drug-related issues could also post comments on the city council’s Facebook page or tweet the municipality.
However, the campaign did not exclude those who could not afford to access such platforms.
Mzimele said the city council had also been distributing brochures and used the help of community activists to provide information to communities in a bid to encourage participation in the drug prevention and awareness campaigns.
The city council had already been working in communities in partnership with local drug action committees, churches, school and NGOs implementing preventative programmes, she said.
Through such programmes the city council sought to address substance abuse before it started.
“We are saying to those who haven’t started [using drugs], here’s information, please make an informed decision,” Mzimele said.
The city council was also set to introduce positive lifestyle programmes held at various locations in communities, which young people could attend after school, at weekends and during holidays in a bid to keep them off the streets and away from negative elements.
Mzimele said drug addiction was a catalyst for further epidemics including crime and other risky behaviour, which he said city council hoped to eradicate through this campaign.
Although the city council had identified several areas where drug addiction and substance abuse was rife, the issue was not unique to individual areas, Mzimele noted.
“The issue of drug abuse affects every family… it touches every sector of our society.”
The public could interact with the city council on Twitter @CityofJoburgZA, on Facebook (Official Page of the City of Johannesburg) or on its website www.joburg.org.za
