Nkomazi programme helps youth stay off drugs

The Nkomazi Local Drug Action Committee conducted a Siyalulama Outreach Programme and prayer session for addicts in the KaMaqhekeza Community Hall on November 1.

The programme was used as a platform to provide factual information about substance abuse and to encourage those who have quit drugs to continue and never look back.

The programme leader, Khanyisile Zomoya Hutchinson, said they also needed the young people to know that they are supported. “There is a number of young people who have fallen prey to the use of substance abuse in Nkomazi. The results of this are the criminal activities we witness in our different communities. It is really painful for parents to watch their children go through this. Thus we are here to support the parents and encourage the young people to do everything they can to stay away from drugs,” said Hutchinson.

ALSO READ: Rob Ferreira Hospital’s oncology unit continues to grow

According to her, they had conducted a number of programmes before in order to help drug addicts. “While this prayer is the first of its kind, we have had dialogues with them before. It was through those dialogues that we found the problem is deeper than we had imagined, which is why we decided to include prayer in these programmes. As we head to the busy festive season, we know that a number of young people will be out of school and have time to be idle. This is why we have decided to intensify the programmes and encourage them to stay away from these substances.”