Awareness on drug usage must start earlier

South Africa’s youth have been facing two major problems: unemployment and substance abuse.

“Studies have shown that substance abuse among South African youth is widespread, with usage starting at 12 years,” said Louina le Roux, MD of Elim Clinic, a substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facility affiliated to Sanca.

This is the main reason that educating children on the dangers of substance use has to start much sooner than is commonly thought necessary.

“Education has powerful effects if applied when development is most easily shaped, and the child’s life is most easily set on a positive course,” said le Roux.

Thabang Monyela from Kopanong Section in Thembisa, a marijuana smoker, said he never thought of quitting but many young people are oblivious to the risks of experimenting with drugs and alcohol.

“While some degree of risk-taking and experimentation may seem harmless, it can have serious negative consequences that can permanently harm a child’s memory, cognitive functioning, motivation and control,” said Monyela.

Monyela said he started smoking at a young age and life circumstances forced him to quit school at an early age.

“I started smoking while I was in Grade Seven. It was not a matter of peer pressure, I was just blinded and not fully comprehended what I am getting myself into,” said Monyela.

In addition, substance abuse also contributes to crime, poverty, dysfunctional families and communities, disease, injury, and premature death.

Prevention is better than cure
According to the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention standards, the goal of prevention strategies is to avoid or delay the initiation of psychoactive substances, or, if they have already been used, to avoid the development of SUDs.

“Drug education enables children and the youth to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to appreciate the benefits of living healthily and promote responsibility towards drug use,” mentioned le Roux.

“This type of education calls for a systemic approach.”

This need for a systemic approach is one of the reasons that led to Sanca deciding to host the Addiction Conference 2021, scheduled for July 21-23.

“This inaugural platform will bring together SUD treatment and other healthcare professionals to collaborate with educators, providers, policymakers and regulators to create effective and long-lasting solutions to address the public health crisis of SUDs,” said le Roux.

A truly collaborative and effective approach must, however, involve everyone that plays a role in the education and development of a child.

The role of parents
Manyela believes parents are role models to their children; a parent’s view on alcohol, tobacco and drugs can strongly influence how they think about them.

“Parents are advised to talk to their children about drugs. Children should not make drugs sound fun and not over exaggerate the harms,” warned Manyela.

Parents of children with addiction problems are encouraged to contact one of the many Sanca centres for the most relevant information and assistance.

The role of schools
“Parents are, however, often the last to discover their child has a problem,” said le Roux.

“Schools and teachers who interact with children daily are well-positioned to identify children with signs and symptoms of SUDs. Bringing any problematic behaviour or signs of distress to a parent’s attention can help catch SUDs before the situation worsens.”

Schools are also appropriate settings for prevention education. Educators may find it challenging to relay information about drug abuse to children and adolescents in a meaningful way without enticing them to try drugs.

There are many curricula designed for schools that have been proven to be effective and can be delivered to learners in interesting, interactive and developmentally appropriate ways. Some of these programmes focus on enhancing learners’ problem-solving skills or aiding them to evaluate the media’s influence in their lives.

“Other effective programmes help improve learners’ self-esteem, reduce stress and anxiety or increase interest in healthy activities,” said le Roux.

The role of community
National and international evidence highlights the effectiveness and importance of community engagement in preventing harm from alcohol and other drugs, especially among high-risk populations such as the youth.
“Fostering a sense of community ownership is key to engagement and participation in community-led programmes,” said le Roux.

“This collaborative approach acknowledges that gathering resources and knowledge, as well as coordinating with multiple agencies or sectors, are elements for success.”

The role of the government
The government’s role in the prevention of SUDs is to create an enabling environment to adopt an integrated and holistic approach by bringing together all sectors of society and providing funding for combating substance abuse and its associated social risks to build safer and healthier communities.

“The scourge of substance abuse is a real threat to communities’ sustainable livelihoods and has the potential to undermine the developmental efforts of children,” said le Roux.

“All parties involved need to focus on SUD prevention rather than treatment by collaborating to create practical, evidence-based solutions relevant to the unique South African context.”

Manyela added he hopes to find a job in the electrical engineering field because he is confident working with electricity, and he continues to condemn the youth from using drugs as they are addictive.