The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) is implementing mass rehabilitation admissions for thousands of substance users in the province to receive a new lease on life.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and MECs are monitoring the implementation to expand access to treatment for people with substance use disorder who cannot afford private care.

This is a response to a call by the premier, who highlighted in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) that substance abuse interventions must be scaled up.

These admissions are implemented to ensure those requiring treatment have equal access to services, including underserved communities.

With that being said, one has to look at underage drinking, seen as a feeder to hard drugs.

According to the Association for Alcohol Responsibility and Education (Aware.org), 50% of teenagers in SA drink alcohol.

One of its studies also found that a person who starts drinking before the age of 18 is four times more likely to develop alcohol and drug dependence than someone who begins drinking after 20.

In addition, a study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in townships across three provinces, including Gauteng, provided insights into adolescents’ drinking behaviours.

With a sample of 3 518 adolescents aged between 11 and 18, the results found that 67% had consumed alcohol at least once in their lifetime, and most had had their first drink at 13 or 14.

Alarmingly, almost a quarter of males and 16% of females said they had their first drink at the age of 11.

This is concerning primarily because the study confirms that early alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of alcohol and drug dependency later in life.

Data from the 2022 South African Social Attitudes Survey conducted by the HSRC further showed that 50% of South Africans aged 16 and older consumed alcohol. However, 90% of them engaged in b

inge drinking, sometimes consuming four or more drinks in one sitting (Bhana & Groenewald, 2019).
Binge drinking is also a serious problem in SA, with teenagers making it a popular practice. As we approach the festive season and the end of schooling, there will be many occasions encouraging binge drinking among teens.
Last year, Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko urged the Ke Moja ((I’m fine without drugs) campaign ambassadors to familiarise themselves with hotspots where schoolchildren often host pens-down parties and to take action to shut them down.

She said, “As the government, we must outlaw the use of hookah pipes (hubbly bubblies) because drug and substance abuse often starts there. The flavours added to them are eventually substituted with dagga, nyaope and other harmful drugs.”

Phetoho Maja from the Gauteng Department of Social Development said this is one of the bold steps taken by the local government to eliminate alcohol and drugs among learners.

“The National Liquor Act of 2003 stipulates that it is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy or to be sold alcohol. However, statistics show that it is a prevalent problem in our society. Alcohol has been projected as a good social practice by youth in SA, but the negative effects it has are not spoken about most of the time.

“This is, therefore, a call to parents, families and communities to play a role in making young people understand the dangers of underage drinking. Parents and families should have an interest in the well–being of their children and open a bottle of communication and support instead,” said Maja.

The GPG is addressing this problem through its Ke Moja, Tswa Daar and Ba Kae campaigns, which focus on learners, out-of-school youth and adults. It also runs substance abuse awareness programmes by social workers.