Serron Nghoshi

For many young people, using alcohol/drugs or other substances like cigarettes is just part of growing up. Many of them try these substances only a few times and stop, while others continue to use them regularly.

 I have come to notice that young people try several substances, including alcohol, household chemicals, over-the-counter medicines, illegal drugs and cigarettes. 

  Most of the youth use these substances to either relax or feel good. 

 But they may also have other reasons for using them. For example, they may want to know what it feels like to get high, or they may want to rebel against their parents or fit in with their friends.

 What the youth should know is that alcohol or drug abuse can affect their general health, physical growth and emotional and social development. 

 It can also change how well they make decisions, how well they think and how quickly they react to things that matter – and it can make it hard for young people to control their actions. 

 It is quite evident that drugs are on our streets and many know where they are sold but fail to report to the police for fear of getting beaten up or losing friends, which makes it difficult to remedy the situation.

Parents can play a key part in teaching their children about alcohol and drug abuse by talking honestly and openly about the effects that alcohol and drugs can have on their health and schoolwork. 

 It is about time that parents start getting involved in their children’s lives, especially when it comes to alcohol abuse. 

 They know that their children consume alcohol, yet they tolerate it by allowing them to sneak out of the houses; some parents send their children to purchase beer for them – or worse, share beer with them.

 If we want a healthy and clean society as well as productive youth, we should all stand up and take up the responsibility of protecting our youth from drug and alcohol abuse.

  Let us keep the youth preoccupied with chores and activities at home. Let us divert their minds to either take up study opportunities or become self-employed by creating opportunities for them. Let us help fund whatever it is that they wish to do as a means of keeping themselves busy. Only then can we turn them into respective and responsible citizens in our society.

*Nghoshi Serron is the Erongo regional youth coordinator.