Parents learn the truth about drugs
Workshop about drug abuse hosted in Kloofendal
“We always just tell our children to say no to drugs, but we never tell them why. They do not have enough information, which leads to curiosity to try them.”
So said said Maurithus Meiring, the coordinator for Drug Free World Africa during a recent workshop organised by the Mothers Against Drugs (Mad) group and held at the NG Church Kloofendal. “Education is the biggest tool we have for preventing drug abuse,”he went on.
Erika Sparks, the founder of Mad, said that she felt the need for this workshop was enormous, as we all need to know how to help a loved one struggling with drug addiction.
The theme for the day’s workshop was ‘Educate yourself about drugs before you get stuck’. It began with a short video consisting of the testimonies of former drug users.
Maurithus then explained how the Drug Free World Programme works, as well as how members of the audience could implement their own programme in the area. “This programme definitely works. We are not here to save everyone, but we can save the majority. The main aim of the programme is to prevent drug abuse, and at the end of the day, it all comes down to choice,” he said.
He added that the programme uses recovered addicts to run the Drug Free World programme in their communities, thus helping them to become successful participants in the working world.
One of these former addicts is Davin Sparks, who wants to make a difference. “I want to introduce a programme in schools, where recovered addicts will work as counsellors. They will have the sole purpose of looking out for the ones who display signs of drug use and testing them. If the results are positive, they will enroll these pupils in a counselling programme after school, where they will be taught the Drug Free World programme,” he said.
During the school holidays, teenagers can join the Drug Free World boot camp to learn more about drugs and what they do to your body. Davin can be contacted on 083 376 0110 for more information on the school counsellors’ programme.
If there are any parents who would like to become part of the Mad group, they can contact Erika on 083 644 8532.
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