BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

THE residents of Rooival village, in Taung are despondent after they experienced a high use of alcohol and drug abuse recently in their area.

The chief of the area, Kagiso Smous (33) called a meeting in quest to curb the plague within the community. He said the community will win a fight against drugs and alcohol abuse in Rooival if they stand together.

“We experiencing the use of drugs and alcohol abuse with in our community especially among the youth. We cannot live like this. Most of our youth quit school and that spells danger to our community as they are the leaders of tomorrow, but how would they deal with the challenges without educational background?” Smous said.

Another disturbed resident, Kgomotso Mpomolwana (36) said what is happening in their area is uncalled for. “I am also a concerned mother who has a child. My child quits school for no apparent reasons. I want to tell the youth that, please stay away from drugs before they destroy your future. Take charge of your life and make sure is for the betterment of it,” Mpomolwana said.

She also advised parents who might know that their kids have drugs problem to speak out before is too late. Mpomolwana said drugs are very addictive and that will lead the users to steal to fend the addiction.

“We need to stand together as mothers because the drugs and alcohol destroy our children’s precious lives. We cannot fold our arms while the youth flush their future down the drain,” she said.

North West Social Development spokesperson Petrus Siko said the community members can access their services related to drugs and substances at their service points.

“We would like to advise the members of community to visit our service points where they could access drugs and substances service points. Equally we have organisations that we funding as the department to provide rehabilitation services to addicts.

“That means community members can use the services for free and we can also add that the department has built a state-run drug treatment centre in Taung hospital at the tune of R2 million. The centre will be completed before the end of this financial year,” Siko said.

Positive Youth Of Taung chairperson, Phemelo Mohutsiwa said it is clear that the communities have an uphill to climb because more drug users are penetrating into the area.

“We have a mammoth task to do as residents of Taung. Every now and then you will find drug addicts roaming the streets, so I would like to advise the parents to visit various centres to get help for their kids before is too late. It is very difficult for the user to quit while the person is hooked, so we better deal with that while is still early. Most parents shy away to ask for help after experiencing that their kids are using drugs, but that is not an issue,” Mohutsiwa said.

-TDN

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