Drugs and alcohol abuse has
increased dramatically in rural and township schools in South Africa. Therefore
awareness education around drugs and alcohol is required.
On the 11 April 2014, the Star For Life Skills Coach, Londiwe Nyawo together with the Mobile Health Unit team and the Wellness and Area Managers organized a drug and alcohol campaign themed, ‘I value My Life Campaign’. This campaign was launched at Zenzeleni Mashamase High School in the Empangeni Area. The campaign comes after alarming levels of drug abuse reported in the area. The campaign was also attended by the representatives from the South African Police Services (SAPS), South African National Counsel on Alcoholism (SANCA) and the Department of Education.  Star For Life Life Skills Coach speaking at the campaign. The Star For Life Mobile Health Unit Manager, Sicebile Nsele said peer pressure, lack of awareness and curiosity have been some of the many factors leading young people to alcohol and drug abuse. Therefore it is important that the awareness reaches them before they even start using these substances. Addressing the learners at the school Silungile Ndlovu from SANCA said drugs and substance abuse during adolescence age can pose a huge health risk to learners, “Drugs will not only affect your bodies physically and emotionally but it’ll also affect your whole future.” An emotional yet educational video produced by SANCA about the effects of drugs abuse was screened. A grade 10 learner Thubelihle Khumalo said most of their peers in drugs start with dagga and home brewed beer, as it is easily accessible and they’ll then progress to more dangerous drugs such ‘whoonga’, a drug cocktail which is said to be a mixture of rat poison, cleaning detergent and HIV Anti-retroviral medication. The representative from SAPS, Sgt Sithole said most of the crimes committed by young people nationally are related to substance abuse. Addressing the learners Sithole cautioned them about holding a criminal record at their age and how it will affect their future endeavors. The ward inspector from Department of Education Miss Ngubane thanked Star For Life and all the stakeholders who were involved. “You are lucky to have stakeholders such as Star For Life, who organize such campaigns for you, so if you are using drugs you still have a chance, you have people like SFL Coach to talk to,” said Miss Ngubane.
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