By Masentle Thinane, Gauteng Department of Community Safety, Communications Officer
Alcohol and substance abuse is a societal problem in the country, impacting on the well-being of young people daily. Given the staggering statistics on alcohol and substance abuse, a paradigm shift is needed to change the status quo. This requires intensive education on the dangers of indulging in these harmful substances.
These substances have a potential to change a person’s attitude, behaviour, character and well-being. When a person is under the influence of alcohol and drugs, their decision-making capabilities is adversely affected.
Many factors have been deemed to be contributing to these societal ills, factors such as peer pressure, lack of self-esteem and poverty amongst others. South Africa is known for having a “poly-substance” abusers, which means they become addicted to combinations of drugs, such as mixtures of alcohol and muscle relaxants or cough mixtures.
The schooling communities have seen a rise in bullying and gangsterism because of learners engaging in these harmful substances. Gauteng roads have also recorded many fatal accidents as a result of motorists driving under the influence of alcohol.
In the past financial year, the department conducted safety interventions in collaboration with the Department of Education at the 126 identified problematic schools. School visits were conducted, and a Provincial School Safety Summit was held to address the challenges of school burglaries, bullying and the use of drugs and alcohol by learners. As part of concerted efforts to ensure safety at schools, approximately 5000 patrollers were deployed at various schools in the province.
A study by South African Statistics states that a chance of causing an accident double after a single drink. It also reveals that six out of ten drivers that die in accidents have high alcohol levels in their blood. In an investigation into substance abuse, 50% of truck drivers and 30% of taxi drivers had been drinking.
Despite concerted efforts by the Gauteng Traffic Police to deal harshly with road traffic transgressors particularly those that are driving in an excessive speed, under the influence of alcohol, road fatalities remain. Many deaths occur at night within urban areas and are associated with the abuse of alcohol and substance abuse.
It is important that communities be educated on the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse while the law takes its course in dealing with anyone who indulge recklessly in these harmful substances. The Gauteng Traffic Police has pronounced that an Integrated Road Traffic Statistics Driven operations will be carried out focusing on hazardous locations across the province aimed at dealing with these substances that contribute to the high rate of fatalities on Gauteng roads. It is envisaged that through these operations road users who are contravening the law by recklessly driving under the influence of alcohol and substance abuse will be arrested.
As the department, there is a dire need to shine the spotlight on substance abuse as the devastating effects are spreading to our schools, homes, relationships, work environment, etc. Community members need to report drug dealers to the police for harsher sentences to be imposed on them. Every sector of society has a role to play in curbing the scourge of alcohol and substance abuse. The department will as part of the Youth month programme engage with young people on safety issues affecting them, meanwhile the Take Charge sector will also be out to educate communities especially young people on the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse.
