What is your teenager doing or “using” today? Current substance addiction among teenagers is rapidly rising. Your children desperately need you to become clued up and able to help them beat this curse!
South Africa has a drug abuse problem
South Africa is one of the drug capitals of the world and a major trans-shipment hub for importing and exporting drugs. Our drug usage is twice the world norm … and rising. The reality is that many of these drug users are school children and teenagers.
Although, dagga (cannabis or marijuana) and alcohol are the most commonly abused drugs, the rising use of other dangerous drugs, especially the locally formulated drug whoonga or nyaope, is a sure recipe for destruction and early death, warns Cathy Vos of the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA).
It is therefore of paramount importance that parents know or find out what their teenagers are doing or “using”. Your children need you to be aware of the latest substance and drug abuse trends to be able to help them beat this terrible curse.
Face the facts
Knowledge is power, so get to know the facts.
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- School kids who use alcohol or drugs are three times more likely to be involved in violent crimes.
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- One in two schoolchildren admit to having experimented with drugs starting at age twelve and younger.
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- The use of drugs among teenagers has increased by 600% since 1995 and is still rising.
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- One in three children in the average SA home is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or run the risk of becoming addicted.
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- 35% of high school children are problem drinkers and by age 18 more than 60% have become drunk, 30% have used school time or work time to drink and many have had to repeat grades.
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- Drugs are widely available and easily obtained. On the Internet the notorious Silk Road website allows users to shop and pay anonymously for drugs, forgeries, pornography and even weapons. And, every school has its dealers. The youngest drug dealer caught in the act was a nine-year-old Centurion (Pretoria) pupil selling drugs at school for his parents.
Know about the drugs in use
Some of the drugs teenagers use:
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- Tobacco products, for example cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and hookah pipes
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- Dagga (marijuana) and the very dangerous and addictive whoonga or nyaope (mixture of heroin and dagga etc.). The latest trend is to mix the drugs with ARV (anti-retroviral) medicines prescribed for Aids patients
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- Inhalants, for example petrol, glue, ammonia (huffing)
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- Stimulants, including cocaine and methamphetamine (tik)
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- Sedative-hypnotic drugs, such as mandrax (we have the highest rate of mandrax use in the world)
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- Narcotics, for example heroin, morphine and codeine (found in certain cough syrups)
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- Club drugs such as ecstasy
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- Hallucinogens, including LSD, magic mushrooms.
Know where to find help
Substance abuse and drug addiction is not something you can fight alone. Fortunately help is just a phone call away. You can call the 24-hour National Substance Abuse Helpline (0800 12 13 14). Qualified counsellors are at hand to help and support you and to refer you to hospitals, rehabs, social workers, psychologists and support groups throughout the country.
Sources
Fifteen percent of South Africans have a drug problem. 2015. Retrieved from: http://www.health24.com/Medical/Addiction/About-addiction/15-of-South-Africans-have-a-drug-problem-20150625
Most commonly used-drugs SA-statistics. Retrieved from: https://christiandrugsupport.wordpress.com/most-commonly-used-drugs/sa-statistics/
SA addiction problem. 2013. Retrieved from; ttps://christiandrugsupport.wordpress.com/2013/07/09/sa-addiction-problem/
SANCA Drug Awareness Week, 25 – 30 June and National Youth Month. Retrieved from: http://www.gems.gov.za/default.aspx?uGCEEFHqlcFmeCUhw4CBFg==
The Silk Road in South Africa. Retrieved from: https://christiandrugsupport.wordpress.com/the-silk-road-in-south-africa/