Johannesburg -
Children as young as 12 years old are dropping out of school to feed their drug addiction.
Now an Eldorado Park mother, Dereleen James, and other residents of Sneeuberg flats want these children back in school to recover.
The residents disclosed this while briefing DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane, who was visiting the area.
The residents said some of the children had not even reached Grade 9, but were wandering the streets of the township, south of Joburg, committing crimes to feed their addiction.
What is worrying the residents is that young girls are becoming involved too.
The residents told Maimane the police were not dealing with the source of the problem, but instead ill-treated them when conducting raids in the area.
While also raising concerns about unemployment, housing, educational, drugs and crime issues were the main problems highlighted. The residents added that lolly lounges were still operating.
Maimane said he would write to Gauteng Premier David Makhura to ask about the rehabilitation centres that were promised to be built.
He said he would raise the residents’ concerns with the respective ministers.
James told Maimane they hoped his visit could bring change to the community.
She also asked politicians to stop playing the blame game around drugs.
“Rather, let’s ask for support. We are losing our youth to the disease of drug addiction while opposition parties are playing the blame game… What we need to hear is how can we help.
“We need to train up recovery coaches in vulnerable communities to empower and create recovery capital. Communities must have places of safety to assist with immediate interventions.
“Our strategy needs to include poverty reduction, addiction education, development and, most importantly, accessible support structures for addicts.”
Speaking to The Star later about what needed to be done to fight against drugs and to assist addicts, James said: “Hospitals and medical aid companies need to recognise drug addiction as a disease and not victimise addicts when they seek help.”
James said that what addicts needed was mental wellness programmes.
“They need to be listened to and come up with their own recovery tools, not dictated to. It’s time we moved away from addressing addiction ‘by the book’, it clearly hasn’t worked. We need to be open to a new approach.
“We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome.”
The Star