Westview Clinic educates learners about substance abuse

Westview Clinic and The Department of Social Development are administrating an Anti-Drug Campaign for Sober October. Not only are they managing the campaign, but are they also visiting schools in the Mohlakeng area to spread significant awareness of drug abuse.

Four schools have been considered for the education opportunity namely the Phahama, Maths, Science and ICT School of Specialisation (which focused on mining), Thuto Lehakwe High School, AB Phokompe Senior Secondary School and Lukhanyo Senior Secondary School. The campaign is held for grade 8–10 learners.

According to Motsilisi Sepanya, the programme works to educate the learners along with the community about the dangers of using drugs. It also educates the communities about the services that the Westview clinic and the social department render. Sepanya also stated that this campaign allows learners, especially those struggling with drug abuse, to open a trusting relationship with different team members as well as their community. Through this campaign, the learners will be enlightened about the different sectors of assistance that they can reach out to regarding their problems.

“Therefore, this campaign strives to bring communities together as a way of helping those who struggle with the use of drugs. The campaign aims to involve the church so that they can pray and combat drug abuse.”

Westview Clinic is a non-profit organisation that does not require patients to have medical aid. The clinic also offers great support and programmes to help educate the uneducated about the effects of substance abuse.

On October 13 at Phahama Secondary School, the first event started with the programme director, Sarah Mokgorong. Thereafter all the guests of the event were welcomed by the principal.

Sarah Mokgorong continued to elaborate on the purpose of the day.

Mokgorong works with the Ke-Moja organisation (also called I’m Fine without Drugs) which is an awareness company that offers life skill programmes where they give different modules to educate learners about substance abuse. Mokgorong stated that she is part of another programme called Puppet. Using hand puppets, Mokgorong teaches children between the ages of three years and 10 years about the use of drugs and alcohol. Mokgorong said that Puppet allows the children to stay entertained while still learning valuable lessons.

“Children see what adults do and automatically want to do the same thing. If an older person is abusing substances, especially an older person that the child looks up to, the child will most likely also be involved in substance abuse. That is why the Puppet programme is important. It teaches children that substance abuse has a negative impact no matter who is abusing it,” Mokgorong said.

“The most trending method of drug abuse under learners recently is a hookah. Usually, water is used to smoke, however, children are not using water. They are pouring substances like vodka into the hookah and usually mix this with drugs like cocaine,” Mokgorong stated.

Mokgorong is not the only person warning learners of the dangers of substance abuse.

Motsilisi Sepanya, a professional nurse at Westview Clinic, warns that if drugs and alcohol substances are being used it can have a drastic influence on your life.

“Abusing substances while you are pregnant can discourage foetal growth. The baby will be born with chronic conditions that cannot be reversed. The child may be born disabled. Many sexual assault cases are also related to substance abuse. In most cases, drugs are being poured into the drink of a woman and they hardly notice. When the woman drinks the beverage she will not remember the events that follow. This is not the only crime act that substance abuse correlates with. Many addicts commit crimes to get drugs. That is why education is so important,” Sepanya told the learners.

Khutjo Mothapo, a social worker, refers those struggling with addiction to treatment centres and she also prepares them for rehabilitation. Mothapo expressed the difficulties that people go through when she mentioned the out-patient and in-patient process. Those struggling with addiction, but wanting to stop would follow the in-patient procedure. They would then be tested for drugs and educated about the effects of substance abuse, using the out-patient process.

Another speaker who joined was Itumeleng Mokgoetsi. Mokgoetsi served a testimonial where he described his victory over his addiction. He expressed that life consists of choices.

“I started abusing substances when I was just a teenager. When I came home from school, I took off my school uniform and put on a uniform of shame. I saw what happened to the people around me, and I realised that I had to start making the right choices,” he said.

Mokgoetsi also added that he spent 20 years in prison. The prison he was incarcerated in, held a programme where school learners would visit the prison to better understand what would happen if they were to commit any crimes.

“That was when I realised that I needed to stop. Drugs will destroy you. You will become nothing if you continue the road of addiction. Surround yourself with those who love you and, most importantly, love yourself enough to make the right choices.”

Josephine Nkotsoe explained the difficulties she endures when learners are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

“The children lack discipline when they are in class. Not only does it affect them, but it also affects the other learners who want to study and do good. This bad behaviour also influences other learners. By this point work is already far behind,” she said.

The event ended with a candlelight prayer that was carried out by Sepanya. The learners of Phahama Secondary School left the event educated and inspired.