International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, 26 June, and Youth Day, 16 June
Christina Mdluzi* is a 40-year-old high school teacher who has three children including two boys and a daughter. She was shocked when one morning her oldest child, 16-year-old Jonathan, came to her in tears saying that he felt like his life was "falling to pieces". Jonathan admitted that over the past year-and-a-half he and his friends had been smoking cannabis, or dagga as it is often called, most afternoons. They even sometimes bunked school and spent the day smoking at an old abandoned warehouse.
As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to share real life member stories and their outcomes with you. This article explores the subject of drug abuse among the youth for Youth Day on 16 June and International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, 26 June.
Addiction
Christina was pleased that her son had been able to discuss the matter with her, but was also very concerned about Jonathan. She thought the boy seemed depressed and had an addiction problem. She decided to take Jonathan to see their doctor who she hoped would be able to help. Their doctor explained that, while many people think that dagga is largely a harmless drug, it is in fact a strong narcotic that can destroy people's lives. It has been associated with depression, anxiety and even other more serious mental health problems in regular smokers. For many people it is also a ‘gateway drug' - the first step on the road to more addictive and dangerous drugs such as heroin. The doctor went on to point out that modern strains of dagga are also very powerful drugs in their own right and should not be underestimated.
Jonathan has since been seeing a social worker for his problem and has been drug free for a year now. The social worker has helped him to talk about why he allowed himself to be so influenced by his friends and become a drug user who felt like he could not live without his regular ‘smoking it up' sessions. Jonathon says he feels much more positive about his prospects in life since giving up smoking cannabis and seeing the social worker.
A problem among the youth
Drug abuse has become a major problem among South Africa's youth in recent years. Speaking at the second Biennial Summit on Substance Abuse recently, President Jacob Zuma said there has been a rapid increase in the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs by South Africans of all ages, men and women, boys and girls. It has been suggested that every child in the country will come into contact with drugs of one kind or another while they are at secondary school. These drugs could include cannabis, heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, mandrax, tik, cat and others.
Feeding the habit
Cannabis is the most commonly used of these drugs, but heroin, tik and mandrax are increasingly commonly found in our schools, and they are highly addictive, causing physical and psychological dependence. Addicts feel like they cannot continue living without such drugs and will do anything to get them. Some people are so addicted that they become involved in more and more dangerous and illegal activities to help pay for their habit. For many individuals becoming addicted to a drug can lead them to look for greater ‘highs', which means that they need to use more or stronger kinds of drugs.
Other risks
There are other risks associated with taking drugs. Pure drugs are expensive and it is for this reason that so many dealers mix or ‘cut' them with less expensive substances. Some of these substances can be more dangerous than the drugs themselves and there have been a number of instances of people dying from them. Keep in mind that you can never be sure what a drug contains.
Alcohol is a drug
While drugs such as alcohol are not illegal they are also considered drugs and are abused by many people. Just because alcohol is more socially acceptable to take than other drugs, it does not mean that drinking it excessively is not dangerous. In fact, alcohol is a major problem in our society and has been shown to cause an increase in violence on our streets and in our homes, and in accidents on our roads and workplaces. About 10% of all people who drink become alcoholics or addicted to drinking alcohol.
Peer pressure
Jonathon said that he started smoking marijuana because his friends were doing it and because it seemed to help to ease the boredom he was experiencing in his life. These are among the most common reasons why youths start to take drugs. They experience boredom or stress in their lives, start experimenting with drugs and become addicted. Some experience problems at home such as violence or abuse and want to ‘escape from it all'.
Young people are also more easily influenced by their friends to do things they might not otherwise do such as try drugs. They desperately want to fit in with their group and will do anything to impress their friends. Remember that nobody starts taking drugs because they want to become addicted. Rather the drug takes over their life and they struggle to live without it.
Drug addicts can be helped
Drug addicts can be helped to overcome their addiction, even when hooked on powerful drugs such as heroin. In Jonathan's case discussing his problems with his mother and then a social worker have helped.
Jonathan's mother, although a single parent, resolved to pay greater attention to what was going on in her child's life and to really listen to him. Jonathan has also realised that he needs to stay away from those friends who take drugs because he is likely to smoke again if he does.
A first step for any user is for them to admit that they indeed have a problem and need help. Parents of drug users or users themselves can contact a support group such as the South African Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Groups such as SANCA are also there to provide you with support if a family member has a problem with drugs. In extreme cases drug addicts may require the help of a rehabilitation centre to stop using.
How do you tell if your child has a problem with drugs?
There are a number of warning signs that may indicate that your child has a drug problem:
Keep in mind that young people may display some of these behaviours without being drug addicts. However it is a good idea to watch out for behaviour in your child that is out of character. It may just be a warning that he or she is taking drugs.
Those who are tempted to experiment with drugs in order to escape from reality should keep in mind that drugs do not make your life better or your problems disappear. Indeed, taking them can be a health risk and cause you to lose control of your life.
If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can phone the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send an SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and well-being.
Sources
1. ‘Devil Bones', Health-e News Service, http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20033130.
2. ‘Drug abuse and addiction', Helpguide.org, http://helpguide.org/mental/drug_substance_abuse_addiction_signs_effects_treatment.htm
3. ‘Hard reality about taking soft drugs', Mail & Guardian Online, 21 April 2011, http://mg.co.za/article/2011-04-21-hard-reality-about-taking-soft-drugs.
4. ‘Substance abuse at Gauteng schools is frightening', Mail & Guardian Online, 10 February 2011, http://mg.co.za/article/2011-02-10-substance-abuse-at-gauteng-schools-is-frightening.
5. "Drug awareness fact file", SAPS, www.saps.gov.za/drugs/factfile.htm.
6. SANCA, www.sancanational.org.za.
7. ‘Zuma commits to tackle alcohol and drug abuse', Health-e News Service, http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20033111.
*The member's name has been changed in order to protect her identity.
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