Drug Abuse in Schools in South Africa
Sadly, the availability of drugs in schools has increased over the decade although the overall usage of illegal drugs has decreased. Drugs are still easy to obtain and the students know who to contact to get them. he Bureau of Justice reports that 85% of teens say they know where to get marijuana and 55% know how to get amphetamines. Knowledge of drug availability is similar regardless of race or location. Students living in rural, suburban, and urban areas all reported similar levels of drug availability at about 35% overall. Even more frightening is that 29% of students say that someone has “offered, sold, or given them an illegal drug on school property.” Some officials believe that the percentages of actual drug abuse are low because of the number of teenagers that have dropped out or are truant are not represented in the survey. These teenagers often have a higher involvement with drugs than those still in school. (Mc Entire)
The most common substance abused is Alcohol. This is usually the effect of the glamour of the substance by the media. The teenagers end up trying to emulate the ‘coolness’ associated with alcohol. The next most common drug used by teens is cigarettes. Followed by Marijuana and then Inhalants. Inhalants are more prevalent with middle school children as they are cheap and easily purchased. Inhalants cover anything from paint thinners, glues, spray paint, whipped cream dispensers, hair sprays, and various other common household items. Prescription drugs have also been on the rise. The majority of prescription drug addicts begin because of drugs prescribed for personal or family-related stress.
South African students are vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse. Sadly, the numbers are on the rise in all grade levels. Alcohol is readily available in South Africa, even to school age students. There is approximately one liquor outlet for every 190 people, according to the report Substance Abuse in South Africa: Focusing on Young Persons. The report contends that school-age youths have an easy time securing alcohol from supermarkets, bottle stores, shebeens and bars. (McFadden)
Donna McFadden of eHow reports that the number of substance abusers differs by gender, geographic location, school-status, age and social class according to the Mental Health & Substance Abuse Medical Research Council Binge drinking is a popular pastime of some high school students. The two groups with the highest rates of binge drinking are white males (39 percent) and colored females (26 percent). Both of these groups are in the middle class. Males and females from other classes and races engage in binge drinking as well, albeit at a lower rate. The National Policy on Drug Abuse Management in Schools: Sample from South Africa report states, “school communities are particularly vulnerable and drug use by learners is on the increase in both rural and urban schools, including primary schools.” The report contends there is a high “correlation between drug abuse and other anti-social and high-risk” behavior. (McFadden)
A Mail & Guardian article is especially depressing. It reports that Substance abuse at Gauteng schools is frightening. “The substance abuse in these schools is frightening … we’re going to search every pupil in every school in Gauteng,” Faith Mazibuko’s spokesperson, Thapelo Moiloa, said. police spokesperson Warrant Officer Kay Makhubele said about 100 officers and 100 community patrollers conducted the raids at Lavela High School in Zola, Moletsane Secondary School, Letare High School in Jabulani and Fontanas High School in Emndeni. Police seized dagga, Mandrax tablets, a bottle of vodka, 10 cell phones containing pornography, DVDs of pornography, lip ice containing dagga and knives. (Mail & Guardian)
The Central Drug Authority was created in 2000 to address the problem of substance abuse. The Central Drug Authority oversees and implements the National Drug Master Plan. The plan requires government departments to develop mini drug master plans, local drug committees and provincial drug forums. Other preventative measures include ongoing research to provide the information needed for the successful development of substance abuse prevention programs. (Mc Fadden)
References:
Mc Entire, Teresa. Drugs in Schools. S.A. Private Schools. Retrieved 26 May, 2011 from http://www.saprivateschools.co.za/articles/drugs-in-schools-south-africa.html
McFadden, Donna. Substance Abuse in South African Schools. eHow.com Retrieved 26 May, 2011 from http://www.ehow.com/about_6521986_substance-abuse-south-african-schools.html
Substance abuse at Gauteng schools is frightening. Mail & Guardian online. 10 February, 2011. Retrieved 26 May, 2011 from http://mg.co.za/article/2011-02-10-substance-abuse-at-gauteng-schools-is-frightening
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment