GALLERY: Social Work students hold drug talk
FERNDALE – Two fourth year students hold a talk to educate school children about drug use.
As part of their course requirements, two fourth year Social Work students, Merlisa Chedie (UNISA) and Margaret Sebetha (Wits) placed at Randburg Clinic School conducted a community project on substance abuse on 6 August. Their project entailed a formal presentation on drug awareness, attended by the Department of Social Development, South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) and non-profit organisation Break the Shame. Students from Randburg Clinic School and Ferndale High School attended the talk.
Randburg Clinic School principal Ronald Bachelor welcomed guests and gave a brief talk on the example that teenagers unwittingly set for youngsters in terms of substance abuse and how younger children look up to teenagers and model their behaviour accordingly.
To bring the point home, a young recovering addict, gave testimony on her journey through addiction to recovery. She spoke of her journey from drinking alcohol to trying a myriad of different substances before settling on her drug of choice – crystal meth. She spoke of harrowing experiences including blackouts and overdoses. The focus of her talk was just how easy it is to get pulled into being a drug user and eventual drug dealer. She freely admitted to coming from a comfortable, loving family and illustrated how anyone can become a drug addict. She has been clean since April this year and is committed to her recovery.
Afterwards John Dlamini of SANCA spoke to the audience about drugs, what they are and how overdoses occur. According to Dlamini, the definition of a drug is any substance a person takes that makes them feel different. He said, “There is no difference between a Disprin and heroin, depending on how one uses it.” Dlamini finished on a blunt note. “Just as HIV doesn’t discriminate, drugs don’t discriminate. You’ll start out using the drugs and before you know it, the drugs are using you. You don’t wake up and say, ‘One day I want to be a drug dealer.’ They will kill you. Drugs kill.”
