Rising Alcohol and Substance Abuse Among Youth in Kroondal

Rethabile Tshabalala

By: Rethabile Tshabalala

 

 Rising Alcohol and Substance Abuse Among Youth in Kroondal

Imagine watching your community’s youth, the leaders of tomorrow, being lost to alcohol and drugs before they even finish school. In Kroondal, Rustenburg, a growing number of teenagers are abusing substances, leading to an increase in school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, and shattered futures.

The issue in Kroondal is the rising abuse of alcohol and drugs among young people. This matters because it is robbing the community of its future leaders and causing long-term damage to families and social structures. It affects school-aged children and teenagers who are supposed to be in classrooms but instead are spending their days in taverns or on street corners, under the influence of harmful substances.

This crisis has hit families hard. Many parents are losing control over their children, and teachers report high dropout rates. I spoke to the mother of a 16-year-old girl who dropped out of school after getting pregnant. “She started drinking with older boys. Before she knew it, she was no longer attending school,” she said with tears in her eyes. Seeing and hearing something like this is nerve-wracking, as it’s hard to imagine the challenges both parents and their children face.

Our environment is not nurturing enough. I feel that we, as community members, are not a common unity. These things keep happening because we don’t care for one another. We must uplift one another instead of turning a blind eye to such things, especially these older guys who are taking advantage of these young girls.

To address this problem, the community needs to take a multi-pronged approach. Increase youth engagement through after-school programs and sports activities. Work with local clinics to provide counselling and addiction support. Involve parents, schools, churches, and NGOs in awareness campaigns. We also need to understand that to tackle this issue, I suggest launching community workshops on substance abuse awareness and prevention.

Forming a youth leadership committee to plan safe and fun events. Partnering with schools to create mentorship programs. Pushing for local bylaws to regulate taverns near schools and homes. Mobilizing parents and guardians to take an active role in guiding their children