Drug awareness campaign held at Kwaggasrand Special School

Pretoria West police and various NGOs held a drug awareness campaign in the Kwaggasrand Special School last week Thursday.

Pretoria West police spokesperson Sibongile Vuma said they were invited by the principal of the school to speak to the children about the negative impact of drugs.

“The school tests the learners for drugs every morning. They have come across few learners who are using substances. So they asked us to do awareness about drugs.

“The learners need to understand that this can lead to one having a criminal record.

“They get used to using it at school and getting away with it by only going to disciplinary hearings, but once we find you outside the school, you are bound to face charges which can lead to a criminal record,” Vuma said.

“A criminal record might affect them after their matric when they have to enrol to university.”

A social worker at Rearabilwe community centre, Lesly Mohale said they wanted to make the learners aware of the negative effects of the drugs around the school premises and on their lives in general.

“It affects their academic performance, it creates a problem in the school premises and also between the teachers and the learners. We have seen an increase in learners using codeine. Dagga has also been one of the most used substances being used in schools.”

Mohale said the issue of drugs has also affected parents and their children at home.

“Parents struggle to discipline their children. The children become rebellious and aggressive.

“Parents are trying their level best to come up with solutions, but I have realised that most parents are not spending enough time with their children because the children are mostly at school,” Mohale said.

“I would advise parents to find social workers and councillors so that they can have professional communication with their children.

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“As social workers, we have skills that we use with learners, we can share the dangerous negative sides these children might find themselves in one day.

“Look at what nyope has done to the community. The people using nyope are the very same children who were at school and doing well but today you find them having to go through this pandemic of drugs.”

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