Research shows growing cocaine use among youths
Baboki Kayawe | Wednesday August 5, 2015 16:42
Clinical programme manager, Kegomoditswe Manyanda made the remarks as BOSASNet and other organisations embarked on an eight-kilometre walk last Saturday as a prelude to the Substance Abuse Awareness Month (SAAM).
“Substance use trends indicate that cocaine has become dominant in Botswana, especially among young people,” she said.
“This is a very sad situation because most of the addicts are still in higher education. This has resulted in high dropouts due to poor performances in academics.”
Manyanda further said many dreams and lives continue to fall apart as a result of the growing addition to cocaine and other hard drugs.
“In some instances you will find a student hooked to the extent that they even fail to complete just the one month prerequisite attachment for them to graduate.
“When they finally want to quit the drugs, it is already too late. At times they are told to repay the study loans, but they simply cannot do it as the substances have robbed them of the prospects of economic independence.”
Chief health officer in the Ministry of Health’s alcohol and substance division, Phenyo Sebuseng said the magnitude of substance use, especially alcohol intake among young people was worrying.
In 2008, Statistics Botswana reported that 12.3 percent of children aged 10 to 14 years and 30.5 percent of youths aged between 15 to 19 years, reported being intoxicated at least once in four weeks.
“Furthermore, roughly six percent of high school students reported drinking prior to the age of 13. The Botswana Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance Survey revealed that 18.6 percent of students reported having smoked a cigarette and 13.8 percent reported using snuff,” Sebuseng said.
Moreover, Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance Survey also indicated that 13.2 percent of students reported using marijuana one or more times during their life.
This, together with the emergence of hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin, crystal meth and ecstasy, was a great concern, he said.
He implored parents and communities to be good role models and guide their children, in addition to being less tolerant of harmful drinking and smoking.
BOSASNet officials said August has been declared Substance Abuse Month as the message of spreading awareness of abuse has become more critical than ever, given the escalating rates of addiction. The theme for the month is: ‘Drug Free Lifestyle: You Have the Power’.
Last Saturday’s walk, which began and ended at Bonnington Mall near the Grand Palm Hotel, was intended to reach out to neighbourhoods such as Block 6, Mogoditshane and Block 8 so as to raise awareness on substance abuse. BOSASNet is a non‐governmental organisation registered in November 2008. It exists to provide substance abuse education, prevention, rehabilitation, and support services for individuals suffering from or affected by substance abuse and dependence.