Pretoria West police and Youth for Survival host drug awareness campaign
“We found that people get discouraged when we sent them to the police station, so hosting such campaigns makes it easy for them.”
Pretoria West police together with Youth for Survival hosted a drug and substance abuse awareness campaign at Lotus Plaza recently.
Police spokesperson Constable Sibongile Vuma said the campaign was prompted by their previous gender-based violence campaign they hosted two weeks ago.
“We were approached by a lot of community members and drug users who asked us if we could host a drug campaign. Pamphlets were issued about drug and substance abuse to the residents visiting Lotus Plaza and passers-by.”
Vuma said community members were also sensitized about the signs of drug abuse addicts and how one can be assisted to go to a rehabilitation centre.
“We also helped signed affidavits for those who wanted to be admitted to rehab.”
A volunteer from Youth for Survival, Mpho Lingalo, said the issue of drugs affected nearby communities negatively and criminal activities have risen because of it.
“The drug issues in communities are also part of the contributing factors to gender-based violence and addicts stealing from their parents.”
Lingalo said the process of admitting users in rehabs also plays a part in them ending up not going to the rehab.
“Users have to go to the police station and write an affidavit about wanting to quit drugs and wanting to be rehabilitated. So we found that people get discouraged when we sent them to the police station, so hosting such campaigns makes it easy for them.”
She said as an organisation they are aware of the pain and suffering the drug issue is to families and before a person is admitted to a rehabilitation centre, there is counselling that takes place.
“That is where the restoration of family relationships will be done.
“My advice to parents that are dealing with drug addicts is that they should be patient with them, at the end of the day, an addict will not leave substances unless he or she feels it is time to stop,” she said.
“Here and there as a parent you have to put your foot down but do it in such a way that it is dignified.”
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
