Henry Harber from the Wild Wild Guardians and an active combatant in the fight against drugs says he is greatly concerned about the children in Springs who are affected by the drug plague.
“Parents will do everything for a fix and the children are suffering the consequences which have a lasting effect on them,” he says.
“Drugs are a major problem. We cannot stress enough to the people to stay away from it.
“Parents who use drugs are capable of horrible things to get their next fix even going as far as selling their own children.”
According to Harber, this results in many children running away from their home and their circumstances.
“Most are too young to walk away and they are forced to live in those circumstances and it becomes a way of life to them and so the circle continues with the generations.”
He adds that the new generation of children is at a stage where they use drugs at a very young age as they either see the uses at home or are coerced into it by friends.
“Somewhere along the lines the problem originates from adults who aren’t responsible and the children see no other outcome.
“There is no help for our children.
“Where are the resources we need to curb this scourge?”
Harber says they do not have sufficient rehabilitation programmes in Springs to help the youth.
“And once drug users are addicted, the chances of getting them clean are not great, although it is possible.”
He adds that drugs in schools are freely available and that children as young as primary school age know where to acquire drugs.
“I spoke to a local high school student who doesn’t use drugs but says they know exactly where to get drugs if they want them.”
Harber also says that drug dealers’ modus operandi is to use primary or high school students as dealers because they know that the law “cannot touch minors”.
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