Alcohol and drug abuse continue unabated. Children as young as 12 have become alcohol slaves.
When drinking or drug use especially dagga, becomes a means for coping with life’s problems it can turn into addiction.
Unfortunately alcohol and some drugs have become more socially acceptable, and this makes it even easier for people to experiment at younger ages.
In addition, alcohol and drugs are readily accessible to many of today’s youth, which further increases the likelihood that they will use substances at some time.
Despite the government’s efforts to curb the abuse of alcohol and drugs, alcohol is such a big part of South African life today that we rarely stop to consider our pattern of drinking.
Many people feel that it is necessary to drink or experiment with drugs when at parties and social gatherings.
Research shows that that some people drink or abuse drugs as a way to cope with the daily stress and tension from school or work, or to cope with other problems such as marital distress or even physical illness.
Alcohol and drugs may become a substitute for satisfying personal relationships, challenging work or self-fulfillment.
Some may use alcohol and drugs as a way to compensate for feelings of guilt, shyness or low self-esteem.
Last Saturday police made a breakthrough when they arrested a peddler in Tzaneen.
During the arrest, they confiscated 12 echany tablets, two cocaine rocks, a scale and an undisclosed amount of money.
