The time has come for solutions - our country and our province cannot afford to lose another generation to drugs
The writer says drug dealers are recruiting children to push drugs in schools and tertiary institutions.
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EVERY day, in every township, in every village, in every city, KwaZulu-Natal’s people are witnessing the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse. Our young people - our future - are falling prey to this evil, with children as young as 10 experimenting with drugs. Teenagers are dropping out of school. Families are breaking apart. And worse still, lives are being lost.
Substance abuse has become normalised. Cannabis and alcohol are now seen as casual, harmless, even fashionable. But, there is nothing casual about addiction. There is nothing harmless about a life destroyed by drugs. And there is nothing fashionable about children losing their futures.
The question is: How did we get here?
Part of the answer lies in the harsh reality that many of our young people face on a daily basis. Poverty, social isolation, the absence of mental health support and lack of job opportunities create an environment where drugs become an escape - a way to numb the pain. Add to this the relentless peer pressure and easy access to drugs on every street corner. We now live in a time where it is easier for a teenager to buy drugs than it is to access a library or a sports field.
Even more horrifying is how drug dealers are now recruiting children to push drugs in schools and tertiary institutions. These criminals have no shame. They are destroying lives for profit and turning our places of learning into places of fear and addiction. In provinces such as KZN, dangerous substances such as Wonga, Nyaope and cheap cannabis have flooded our communities.
Township areas have been completely infiltrated. SAPS stations are under-resourced. Community policing forums are stretched. And our children are paying the price. And it doesn't end there. Once hooked, young people turn to crime to fund their addiction. This leads to a rise in theft, house break-ins, sex work, and violent crimes. These are not just statistics, these are real families being torn apart.
Shontel de Boer is a Democratic Alliance member of parliament.
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And in our schools? Poor academic performance, lack of discipline and early dropouts. The classroom is no longer a safe space. Our teachers are overwhelmed and our children are distracted and disheartened. The impact of substance abuse is not limited to individuals. It’s destroying the very fabric of our society.
The question is what can government do?
This is not a problem for government alone to solve. It requires a whole-of-society approach. It starts in our homes. Parents need to step up and play a more active role in their children’s lives. Ask questions. Show up. Listen. Be present. We need strong, united communities that take a stand against drug dealers. We need local leadership, ward councillors, religious leaders, civil society to rise and say enough is enough.
And yes, SAPS needs to do its job. Law enforcement must be strengthened and laws must be enforced, especially in known drug hotspots. It cannot be that drug dealers operate freely, just metres away from schools and police stations. But law enforcement alone is not enough. There must be prevention.
There needs to be investment in youth development. There needs to be more safe spaces, where children and young people can play, learn and grow, away from danger. Our communities need centres that offer sports, arts, tutoring, life skills, and mentorship. We need trained social workers in every school and we need addiction support services and rehabilitation that is accessible.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) - as part of KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) - is committed to fighting for this. We strongly believe that no young person should be written off simply because of where they were born or the circumstances they were raised under. We will continue to push for policies that focus on inclusion, not exclusion. Empowerment, not punishment. Hope, not despair.
Our country and our province cannot afford to lose another generation to drugs. We cannot stand by while children drop out of school and fall into the hands of criminals. We cannot continue to talk without acting. The time has come for solutions. We owe it to every child, every parent, every teacher, and every community.
Shontel de Boer is a DA member of provincial legislature. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Sunday Tribune or IOL.