This is the opinion of Amanda Greybe from the Springs SAPS Social Crime Prevention Unit.
Police regularly conduct checks at local schools for drugs, as well as dangerous weapons, with the assistance of Henry Harper from Wild Wild Guardians, Barries Barnard from Hi5Kids Recovery Unit and the EMPD.
When a learner is found in possession of drugs, they intervene with the assistance of the school and the child’s parents.
“Schools have a disciplinary committee to deal with these problems,”says Amanda.
Amanda says it is important to find the source of the learner’s problem.
During a recent school search where a learner was found in possession of dagga, the boy cooperated and took police to a plantation from where he gets the dagga.
The plantation was destroyed with the help of Henry and EMPD officials Louis Els and Louwtjie du Toit.
Amanda says children caught with drugs and their parents are referred to the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) for help.
Henry says the social effects on children using drugs are sometimes worse than the criminal consequences.
Drug abuse in school children is on the increase and parents are sometimes ignorant of what is going on their children’s lives.
He claims parents are naive and not properly educated about drugs.
Children experiment with drugs out of curiosity or because of peer pressure.
“If drug use is causing problems at school or at home it is likely that the learner has a problem,” he says.
Warning signs:
n Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual
n Changes in appetite or sleep patterns, sudden weight loss or weight gain
n Drop in attendance and performance at school.
n Unexplained need for money or financial problems.
n Sudden change in friends.
n Frequently getting into trouble.
n Sudden mood swings, irritation or angry outbursts.
n Appears fearful, anxious or paranoid for no reason.
The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, recently announced the department’s national strategy for the prevention and management of drug use in schools has been completed.
She says managing drug use in schools and drug testing guidelines will be part of this.
