June 26 marked the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Commemorated annually by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), it highlights the ease of access to narcotic and alcoholic substances in SA.
According to SADAG, age, peer pressure, the low cost and easy accessibility of drugs and alcohol in SA increase the risk factors of abuse among adolescents and young adults.
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The World Drug Report of 2021 indicates that the population most at risk of using drugs is young people aged 15 to 34.
They projected this age group would grow in the next decade, particularly in low-income countries.
In SA, the average age for drug dependency is 12, while 50% of SA teens drink alcohol.
To curb substance abuse and support South Africans, especially the youth, SADAG, in partnership with the National Department of Social Development, launched SA’s first WhatsApp substance abuse chat platform.
The initiative is called Ke Moja, and its WhatsApp number is 087 163 2025.
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SADAG’s project manager, Dr Busisiwe Twala, said the association has seen an increase in adolescents and young adults (age 13 to 35) contacting their telephonic, SMS and online platforms for help.
Twala said the WhatsApp chat line hopes to ease the youth’s accessibility to SADAG.
“Between April 2021 and March 2022, we had 89 992 youths contact us through our existing helplines, an increase of 107% from 2020.
“Younger people use WhatsApp frequently, and we believe this new platform will offer more options when seeking support, guidance or help, whether for themselves or a family member,” said Twala.
She emphasised that admitting there’s a problem is the first step in overcoming an addiction to alcohol or drugs, but reaching out for help is the necessary second step.
“Young people do not know where to go to find help for various problems, which includes substance abuse. This additional avenue provided by SADAG will help provide the necessary direction.”
The chat line will offer basic counselling, self-help tips and tools for dealing with substance use and referrals to resources and information for all age groups across SA.
Contributing factors to substance abuse
Research indicates that not all young people are equally vulnerable to substance abuse.
Rather, it is a combination of risk factors coupled with a lack of protection against substance abuse that will determine how susceptible youths are to experimenting and, ultimately, becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol.
According to SADAG, peer pressure is one of the major contributing factors to youth substance abuse.
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Adolescents are either forced, persuaded or pressured to try drugs or alcohol by their peers and, in many instances, deceived into believing that using is either not harmful or that there will be no repercussions for it.
Other risk factors include mental health illnesses such as anxiety or depression, isolation, lack of parental involvement, dysfunctional social relationships and poverty.
Substance abuse among learners is usually associated with crime, violence, deviant behaviour and bullying and can lead to several mental health disorders.
It also poses challenges in an academic context in terms of school discipline, classroom management, and aggression, resulting in poor academic performance and possibly dropping out of school.
The most commonly used drugs:
According to the latest report released by the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use, those younger than 20 admitted to treatment centres in 2021 reported cannabis as their primary substance of use.
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In addition to alcohol, popular drugs used by adolescents include:
• crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth or tik.
It is usually a pill that a candle or other heat source melts;
• ecstasy, which looks and tastes similar to sweets;
• codeine, which many cough medicines contain;
• nyaope, which contains a mix of different drugs, detergents such as washing powder, other chemicals, and even rat poison;
• flakka, similar to ecstasy, is a powder and tastes similar to sweets;
• cocaine and Mandrax.
Signs of addiction
• Loss of interest in day-to-day activities.
• Absence from school or dropping out.
• Change of peers to hang out with those who are users.
• Become moody, negative, cranky, or worried all the time.
• Have trouble concentrating.
• Lack of energy resulting in sleeping much more.
• Aggressive behaviour that leads to fighting or becoming argumentative.
• Committing crime to feed the habit.
• Red or puffy eyes.
• Unexplainable weight gain or loss.
• A frequent runny nose.
Despite the many reasons for adolescents using substances, it’s important to note that although drugs and alcohol might seem to offer a temporary escape from problems, one can prevent the serious long-term consequences through early intervention.
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The Ke Moja WhatsApp Chat Platform is available seven days a week, from 08:00 to 17:00. WhatsApp 087 163 2025 for a live chat with a counsellor.
Alternatively, contact the National Department of Social Development’s 24-hour Substance Abuse Helpline on 0800 12 13 14 or SMS 32312.
