BY Bongani Dladla
A child may develop a sense of mixed emotions and physical neglect as well as a fear of danger if they are exposed to drug use at an early age in their homes. Drugs and alcohol are destroying our communities due to unemployment and lack of opportunities especially for our youth. After matric, they don’t have anything to do. So some of our youth have started to use drugs and others are drinking alcohol every day.
Bongani Dladla explains to us the negative effects of drugs and alcohol which contribute to violent crimes as well as gender-based violence:
The mental and physical effects of addiction are devastating and the disease of addiction itself can cause permanent brain damage. When a person is struggling with a substance addiction disorder, he/she can be noticeable in their behavior. Drug addiction is more than simply a bad habit, it’s a disease that like any other chronic illness. Let us stop using drugs and alcohol.
Our purpose is to encourage young people not to allow peer pressure to get the better of them. Do not drink because your friends are drinking and remember you can still have fun without alcohol and drugs. We also call on liquor traders and members of our community not to sell alcohol to a person under the age of 18 years, our community policing forum is working with police to find out who is selling drugs to our community, especially our youth. Let us protect our youth and say NO to drugs and alcohol.
