The haunting spectre of drug addiction, a relentless force that preys upon the innocent souls of our future, has become an insidious plague that ravages our society. Like a venomous serpent, it slithers through the shadows, ensnaring the vulnerable hearts and minds of the youth, leaving devastation in its wake. This calls for all of us to be the beacons of light amid the darkness, offering compassion, support, and unwavering determination to eradicate this insidious enemy.

By Themba Khumalo

Drug addiction slithers through the minds of our young ones like a treacherous serpent, injecting its toxic venom that warps their grasp on reality.

If you ever yearn to have a grasp of the sheer enormity of the havoc wreaked by drugs, not just on the young souls but on the very fabric of society, like a merciless tornado tearing through a serene landscape, then hop into your ride and take a journey through any township. Behold the crumbling infrastructure, reminiscent of a once-majestic castle now reduced to a desolate ruin, under siege from all sides.

Like a flock of ravenous birds on the hunt for morsels, young addicts can often be spotted scavenging for scraps of metal, their eyes shimmering with desperation. As you navigate the bustling local shopping malls, you will find them, like helpful phantoms, gracefully guiding shoppers to parking spots and standing guard over their precious vehicles, as watchful as vigilant hawks.

They steal from their kin and neighbours, akin to famished vultures swooping down on their prey, igniting a wildfire of community fury that spreads like an inferno, often leading to a frenzy of street justice. Young girls, like delicate flowers swaying in the wind, find themselves lured towards the shadowy path of prostitution.

A shocking revelation from a study by the South African Anxiety and Depression Group uncovered a surprising fact: children in South Africa are starting to engage in the dangerous world of drugs and alcohol at the incredibly young age of 12. Can you believe it? Twelve years old!

But that is not all!

A National Youth Risk Behaviour survey also reported alarming findings, revealing a concerning increase in drug use among our children. An astonishing 50% of pupils in grades 8 to11 have already tried alcohol, while 13% have even experimented with marijuana. This is a distressing reality that requires our immediate attention and action.

Unemployment, the bane of existence! Drug addiction is often linked to the exasperation that stems from being unemployed and unemployable. According to the wise folks at Stats SA, 60.7% of young South Africans (aged 15 to 24) found themselves trapped in the jaws of unemployment during the second quarter of 2023. It is a frustrating reality that has pushed some of these individuals towards the seductive but dangerous allure of substance abuse…unemployment has left them bereft of hope and purpose.

In rural areas, the prevalence of drug abuse is linked to households lacking parental presence. Research conducted by the South African Human Rights Commission revealed that a significant number of children, approximately 3.7 million, live in households without parental care. Statistics South Africa further informed us that the emergence of child-headed families in these areas can primarily be attributed to three factors: the death of one or both parents, migration in search of better opportunities, and the incarceration of a primary caregiver.

The million-dollar question is whether politicians, business bigwigs, and communities have their heads in the game when it comes to understanding the seriousness of this issue. Or are they simply turning a blind eye and passing the buck, hoping for a Hail Mary solution to magically appear?

How about tackling the issue of dilapidated recreational facilities? Once upon a time, several townships across the country had these nifty hangouts that were like a home away from home for the youth. They had swimming pools that were firing on all cylinders, boxing academies that were churning out world champions and contenders left and right, cricket academies that were hitting it out of the park, and arts centres that were the bee’s knees. Back in the day, schools would go head-to-head in football, netball, athletics and choir showdowns.

In the present day, it is like a gloomy reality that the young minds of our townships and rural areas are as unfamiliar with the art of celebrating sporting triumphs, as a fish is to climbing a tree. Gone are the days when parents would eagerly vie for a spot in specific schools, like hungry wolves competing for a juicy piece of meat, knowing that these institutions possessed the magical ability to nurture future athletic legends, like fertile soil nurturing a garden of champions.

Community halls were more than just a place for political shindigs, sombre send-offs, and love-filled nuptials. Community halls were a hotbed of activity, playing host to a myriad of events like artsy shindigs, glamorous beauty pageants, and fiery debate showdowns, just to scratch the surface.

It is mind-boggling how the movers and shakers of our society, be it business tycoons or influential politicians, seem to be turning a blind eye to the catastrophic drug epidemic plaguing our youth and society. What is even more disheartening is that these are the very individuals who hail from the same humble townships and rural areas as the rest of us.

Unless we take bold and radical steps to combat this menace, drug and alcohol addiction will continue to be an unfortunate lifestyle choice for our precious children. Perhaps it is time for the electorate to question the purpose of voting for leaders who fail to acknowledge and address this pressing issue.

It is time to ignite the flames of passion and become the champions of our precious children. Let us gather the troops of transformation and demand that businesses invest their resources in nurturing the next generation, shielding them from the fury of societal disillusionment.

School authorities, take heed and resurrect the splendour of sports and competitions, for they are the life force of our educational institutions.

Church leaders do not confine your efforts to constructing youth structures solely for the benefit of your congregations, but rather extend a helping hand to the young souls in our communities.

And to all the professionals out there, let us not overlook the immense power we possess to mould young minds by imparting our wisdom and guiding them towards fulfilling careers. Together, we can forge a bright future for our children.

The antidote to our nation’s drug epidemic demands a united front, a symphony of efforts from parents, politicians, police, and rehabilitation centres. For it is the collective strength of our community that nurtures the growth of our youth.