School anti-drug campaign to set Mams learners on right path
The campaign is to set learners on the right path by focusing on prevention.
A local organisation is raising the awareness of drug- and substance abuse at schools in Mamelodi.
On Friday, Second Chance Recovery centre visited Rephafogile secondary school in Mamelodi East as part of its school drug awareness campaign.
Centre social worker Mphatlo Masoga said the campaign is for early intervention, prevention and to raise awareness of the problems associated with substance abuse.
She said the aim of the campaign is to help the learners change and stop taking drugs.
“We are visiting schools with recovered addicts to tell and motivate learners to stop taking drugs and help those who want to quit taking drugs,” said Masoga.
She said the centre is doing everything in its power to fight drug and substance abuse within the community.
The learners were told about different kinds of illegal drugs and the damage they are doing to the body.
Recovered drug addict, Mohao Nkomo said the campaign is to set learners on the right path by focusing on prevention as well as host friendly talks and debates with learners.
“We tell the learners about the dangers of taking drugs, addictions and other risk behaviours, after taking drugs,” said Nkomo.
He said he used to be an A-student, but drugs took everything from him.
“I am chef and I lost my job because I could no longer do my job because of the drugs,” said Nkomo.
“We cannot just sit and do nothing while our youth are getting destroyed.”
Masoga added that drug abuse is dangerous and can harm the user and their family and friends.
She said at the centre they have out-patient and in-patient programmes.
“We do assessments, referrals to in-patients clinics, after-care, drug testing, family support and community education awareness,” said Mphatlo.
She said learners received pamphlets on the common signs of possible drug-taking to take home. The signs include loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulty to sleep, hyperactivity, lying, stealing money/valuables, blood-shot red eyes and sudden change of friends.
She said parents must make the time to listen to their children’s problems and work through them with them. They must also give clear messages that the use of drugs and alcohol is forbidden and most importantly get to know their children’s friends and their parents.
Second Chances Recovery centre is situated at Mamelodi West section D1 next to the main entrance of Moretele Park resort.
To contact the centre, call 012 805 6999.
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
