Sowetans say, ‘Drugs must fall’
"I almost lost my family because of drugs" - Lunga Xulu
Anti-drug organisations in Soweto rallied residents in the area together to take a stand in a march against drug abuse which has a negative impact on so many communities in the country.
They joined forces to make their voices heard about the importance of educating the youth about the dangers of consuming the illicit substances flooding our streets.
Siyakhula Skills Development, Livelihood Horizon and other non-profit organisations hosted a drug awareness campaign about the dangers and, in many cases, irreversible effects of continued drug use.
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is celebrated annually on June 26 and stakeholders were invited to share their experiences with the rest of the community.
Operations director, Stanley Mollson said, “We looked at the effects drugs have on our children and the highly addictive substances available on our streets. The aim of the awareness campaign is to increase the prevention of substance abuse and the promotion of healthy, drug-free communities.”
“We are proud to be one of many organisations in South Africa encouraging people to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and promoting a drug-free society.”
Lunga Xulu shared his story and said, “Drugs changed my life drastically, and had a negative impact on my family. You only realise after a few months down the line the damage you’re causing to yourself and your family.
“I lost my company, sold my camera and two laptops just to feed my craving at that time. To this day, I regret the day I was introduced to drugs.
“With drugs, you lose your identity, your pride and who you are. Restoring the trust in your family is not easy. I would rather encourage the youth to participate in sports so that one is not easily influenced and pressured to fit in.”
Mollson thanked everyone who made the event possible including the organisations which contributed and the community for their help in standing together against drug use.
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