South African president calls on youth to say no to drugs

President Jacob Zuma on Sunday appealed to all young people and children to refrain from using drugs and abusing alcohol as South Africa joins the world in marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the theme "Listen First".

Zuma also urged those who are addicted to seek treatment, saying the government is building treatment centres in every province, to make treatment accessible.

"The abuse of drugs is threatening to destroy many families. Some parents live in fear of their children who terrorise them and neighbours, due to the abuse of nyaope, whoonga, cocaine, heroin and other drugs. We appeal to our youth to say no to drugs," Zuma said in an address to the nation.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report of 2014 indicated that more than 270, 000 South African citizens were defined as problem drug users.

A report from the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use indicated that South Africa had the following numbers of young people (from the ages of 10 to 39) received treatment between January and June last year, with 3,677 in Gauteng Province, 2,869 in the Western Cape, 93 in Limpopo and Mpumalanga and 290 in the Eastern Cape.

"We urge parents and communities to encourage more drug users to seek help. We also welcome and support the campaign by the Congress of South African Students against alcohol abuse and the wearing of school uniforms in taverns," said the president.

"We also urge communities to report drug lords and drug peddlers so that they can be stopped from destroying our children," Zuma said. Endit