Drug abuse on the increase

LEPHALALE – Drug abuse and drug dealing has increased dramatically in the area over the past few years. So says Lt Colonel Motlau, Lephalale SAPS station commander, who gave a briefing during the CPF meeting last week. “We are struggling to get to the bottom of the drug problem in Lephalale,” Motlau said.
According to a study by the Department of Social Development – Substance use, misuse and abuse amongst the youth in Limpopo Province that was published in 2013 the age of drug users has decreased dramatically. Some of the users who participated in the study were as young as nine (9).
These findings were confirmed by Motlau who said that it is common for them to have to deal with very young children during the course of their work. 
“I was shocked when I realised that the drug dealers are targeting these young children,” Motlau said.
He explains that the current drug of choice for young people is Nyaope - a cocktail of ingredients containing rat poison, heroin and anti-retroviral drugs that is sold for about R30 a shot.
The study showed that substance abuse is worsened by complex socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, poverty, peer pressure and crime in general. These are all factors that are experienced on a daily basis in Lephalale.
Lt Colonel Motlau urged the community to come forward with information regarding drug dealing to make contact with him. “I will ensure that the right people receive the information so that we can get rid of this problem,” he told the meeting.  He assured the community members that all information will be seen as highly confidential.