Information and education is key in dealing with drug abuse

As South Africa marks Drug Awareness Week, Badisa Strand seeks to educate and inform parents about the dangers of drug abuse.

The initiative running from Sunday, June 22 to Friday, June 27 is aimed at raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of drug use, the factors contributing to substance abuse, and ways to support individuals struggling with addiction.

Leigh-Mae Martin, project coordinator and qualified social auxiliary worker at Badisa Strand, emphasised the importance of parents being able to recognise the signs of drug use, which she identified as a critical aspect in addressing the issue.

“Drug Awareness Week aims to provide parents with the knowledge needed to spot potential substance abuse early, enabling them to take appropriate action,” she said.

The week will also focus on providing resources and guidance to help those affected by addiction seek appropriate treatment and support.

Ms Martin, together with her project team member Andrea Ruiters, also operational at Badisa Strand, compiled a list of red flags parents should be on the lookout for that can indicate drug use.

“Most of the time, you can see in their behaviour that some children or young people become aggressive, sleepy, defensive, or just a general change in their behaviour.

“There is also a change in their school attendance; they often miss classes deliberately, struggle to focus on classes and lose interest in age-related activities,” the team said.

Another indication can be an urgent or sudden need for money.

“There is an increased need for money, and often times there would be things disappearing from the home to sell to obtain money.”

Somerset West based Wendy Koopman, a trained Christian counsellor who specialises in counselling families and those affected by drug abuse, said when people suspect drug use in a loved one, the first step is to win that person’s trust.

She said: “Firstly, you will look at behavioural changes and once you notice any of these things, you have to win the person’s trust so they will have the courage to talk to you openly and honestly.”

After engaging in an open, transparent conversation, the next step in the process is to identify the type of drug or substance the person is using to discuss the way forward.

“Once this conversation takes place, the next step would be to look for places or organisations that can help", she said.

She strongly discourages parents or loved ones from arguing with, scolding or threatening the drug user, as this in the end will only lead to them becoming bewildered, confused, and resistant to help or any intervention strategies.

She said the action plan or approach to getting the person help must be taken with love.

“The main thing is not to label the drug user as a ‘druggie’ or any such derogative terms but to treat that person with the same amount of love and dignity like before. My advice to the family is always to work with the addict with a lot of love, with a Godly love, and get them to understand that they can talk to you about anything that happens to them, that there will be no judgment.”

Her work involves assisting families with guidance and support, but also referring users to rehabilitation centres or organisations for assistance.

She said: “Depending on the duration or length of the drug use, rehabilitation will take longer. The longer a person has been using drugs, the longer the process will take to get them clean. There are very strong effects of drug use on a person, so families must handle the addict with a lot of love; I know this can be a difficult request and parents can be at wits' end, but it is necessary.”

Another key aspect of drug abuse is knowing what the risk factors are. It is helpful for parents or caregivers to know which risk factors or circumstances can make teenagers or young people more vulnerable to drug use.

The root cause of a loved one’s drug abuse Ms Koopman said can be due to a few reasons. These can range from traumatic incidents, bullying at school, suffering from an inferior complex, rejection, abuse, molestation, being outcast by society, divorce in the home, job loss, financial stress or debt can all be reasons why people feel the need to numb out the traumatic emotions or try to cope with the situations by using substances. This is why, she said, loved ones must exercise patience when dealing with the problem.

In their experience and work in the Helderberg basin, Badisa outlined some of these risk factors. “Trauma and exposure to violence, a lot of children use substances to escape from or numb emotional pain,” they said.

Insufficient parental supervision due to parents working long hours, absence of care givers, and children left alone from a young age, can also play a role in children or young people falling trap to temptation.

Another concerning factor that can influence children making wrong choices, is the adult figures they grow up with.

“If there is a history of substance abuse in families, children can model what they see at home or also model the unhealthy coping mechanisms in dysfunctional environments,” the team of Badisa said.

Badisa’s main message to the public during this week, Ms Martin said, is a plea to parents to become more involved in their children’s lives.

“We believe that prevention starts at home. Children look to their parents as role models. They learn how to cope, how to relate, and how to make choices by watching the adults in their lives. That’s why it is so important for parents to be involved and create safe, open spaces where children feel seen, heard, and supported,” she said.

Modelling healthy coping mechanisms to children on how to deal with life’s stresses or intense emotions, is important through all the stages of a child’s life.

“Help your child find healthy ways to cope with stress and emotions by simply being available to listen, to guide, and to love without judgment. Because when children feel emotionally safe and supported at home, they are less likely to look for escape in harmful places,” Ms Martin said.

This year, according to the South African government, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking or World Drug Day is marked on Thursday June 26, with this year’s focus on treating drug users with empathy, respect and compassion, while also encouraging people to treat those with addiction problems without stigma or discrimination.