North West Premier Thandi Modise has called for united action against the scourge of drug abuse and illicit trafficking and for communities to support young people by identifying and blowing the whistle on drug lords and those establishments that are selling alcohol to the underage.

“We need to intensify the onslaught against drugs and alcohol abuse, build a drug free South Africa and communities that care because we cannot afford to lose our youth who are our future leaders to drugs like Nyaope and alcohol abuse. Research has confirmed that 

young people who start drinking alcohol before age 15 are 5 times more likely

 to develop alcohol abuse or dependence than people who first used alcohol at age 21 or older”, highlighted Premier Modise in her message to commemorate International Day against Drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

Modise added that though young people are more affected by alcohol and drugs than any other age group, the prevalence affects almost everybody, directly or indirectly, in homes, in families, in school, in neighbourhoods, communities, villages towns and cities.

The United Nations General Assembly resolved on 7 December 1987 to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.