Africa-Press – Botswana. A recently registered community-based organisation, Mabutswa Social Society, has decided to adopt a bottom-up civic engagement and action to fight the use of illicit drugs in Lobatse.
Speaking during a public awareness campaign against the use of methcathinone (cat) drug in Lobatse over the weekend, the society’s chairperson, Mr Dichaba Seleka, said they were disturbed by the way illicit drugs were destroying young people’s future.
He said police officers alone would not manage to stop illicit drugs. He, therefore, stated that their society formed seven years ago would work with other stakeholders to prevent the sale of drugs around Lobatse.
“We are being ravaged by this drug (methcathinone). We are losing many young lives to CAT. We want the drug out of our community,” said the chairperson.
He appealed to the community to work together in the fight against drug use, adding ‘we cannot sit back and watch as drugs ravage our community.’
He said many young people had their health affected negatively by the use of drugs.
“The police have also reported some of the crime incidents such as house break-in that were directly connected to use of drugs,” he said.Mr Seleka said part of their objective was to promote holistic upbringing and development of the boy child and contribute in the socio-economic development of their community.
A psychiatric nurse at Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital, Mr Kegoletile Polelo, said indications were that cocaine and methcathinone were widely used.
“Mental illness patients at Sbrana hospital have increased significantly in the past two years. Even the number of relapses has increased,” he said, adding that some of the patients had admitted to have used drugs.
“We have patients as young as 12 years admitting to have used drugs. This calls for the whole society to stand up and fight the use of drugs,” he added.
He said apart from mental health issues, the use of drugs could lead to people stealing to make money to fuel their drug addiction.
He further said drugs could lead to break down in relationships, depression, reduced productivity, decline in school performance for learners, drop in hygiene levels, a person becoming irritable and isolating themselves.
Mr Polelo urged parents to be closer to their children to be able to spot any change in behaviour that could be connected to use of drugs.
“We are living in a changing world where there is a lot going on which is putting pressure on children. Parents should be close to their children so they could pick any changes in their children’s behaviour and be in a position to act before things got out of control,” he said.
A nursing superintendent at Sbrana, Mr Bonako Dibotelo, said the hospital through its substance use clinic treated patients, gave them counseling and showed them the dangers of using drugs.
However, he said there were no drug rehabilitation centres or wards in Sbrana as yet.
“As such the hospital does not carry out full rehabilitation services,” he said.
Mr Dibotelo, however, said there were plans to install some rehabilitation wards with specialists at Sbrana hospital using the Alcohol Levy.
Peleng Customary Court president Ms Mmakgosi Kemoabe applauded Mabutswa Social Society for their mammoth work in fighting illicit drug use.
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