Hlami Maluleke is a fourth-year Midrand Graduate Institute Bachelor of Psychology student conducting her research under the supervision of Ilse Barnard, a clinical psychologist at the Rand Aid Association rehabilitation centre. Concerned about the widespread, devastating effects of nyaope in underprivileged communities, Maluleke conducted a research study into the experiences of mothers raising adolescents who abuse nyaope.
“This particular subject is of great importance to me as it highlights our communities’ desperation for support… Nyaope is most prevalent in informal settlements that face various socio-economic obstacles such as poverty, unemployment and high levels of crime,” said Maluleke.
While the wellbeing of entire families is affected by nyaope abuse, Maluleke focused her research on those who experience the brunt of the fall-out caused by the street drug, interviewing mothers of nyaope users in Soshanguve. Her decision was prompted by these women’s desperation for support in restructuring their lives and those of their children, and the study revealed the significant stress levels suffered by these women.
“Financial stress impacted many of the mothers; unemployment, coupled with their children’s ongoing theft within the household left them feeling helpless and destitute,” explained Maluleke.
“The main conflict that the mothers grappled with is that of co-dependency versus maternal instincts… These maternal instincts tend to overlap with enabling behaviour towards the adolescent’s nyaope use. This also affects the marital relationship as the mother takes a nurturing approach in dealing with her child’s nyaope use whereas the father takes on a disciplinarian approach.”
Lack of community support is another form of stress experienced by mothers, as ostracism of nyaope users and attacks by other community members instil fear for their children’s lives and safety. Nyaope abuse leaves the mothers of addicts with an immense sense of helplessness, emphasised Maluleke.
“Without financial, familial and community support, these women rely on their primitive gift of nurturing which motivates them to keep surviving and adapting in order to provide for their children, despite the misfortunes that they are dealt,” she concluded.
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