The event, which was an initiative of the Heidedal Local Drug Awareness Campaign (HDLAC) and the Free State Gambling Liquor and Tourism Authority, meant to raise awareness among parents and children alike about the danger of drugs, alcohol and gambling addiction.

Speaking at the event was Captain Mzwandile Valashiya, who warned parents to stop sending their underage children to buy alcohol, cigarettes and other substances minors are not allowed to purchase. He argued that this not only exposes the minors to the reality of being sent to jail, but also to the possibility of a lifelong criminal record.

Valashiya warned both minors and parents present at the event not to give in to the temptation of sending a minor to go buy alcohol or allowing an adult to place them in that position. 

“The thing with that is, if you get arrested, you remain with that criminal record for a long time, which messes up your work opportunities and remains with you for the rest of your life,” Valashiya said.
 

Also speaking at the event, was HDLAC’s Gregory Werner who warned that substance abuse goes beyond alcohol and drugs. It also pertains to pastimes such as gambling. If help is not sought, all of these become addictive and destructive to the individual trapped by substance abuse.

Speaking from his experience as a recovering drug addict, Werner said it was important that communities become proactive in dealing with matters related to substance abuse and crimes related to this abuse.

“It is time that as community members, you start acting and start reporting crimes to the police. When you see something wrong in the community, speak up. We all want change, but change begins with an individual. Unless we all change ourselves and our approach to matters of substance abuse and crime in our communities, they will never change,” Werner said emphatically.

Also speaking at the event was performing artist from Botshabelo, Jane Mpholo, who told the tragic tale of the death of her sister, whose alcoholic drink was spiked at a tavern before she was brutally murdered.

An emotional Mpholo also delivered a compelling poem that spoke of the ills African societies are facing and her message to women at the event was that they should take care of themselves and not stay in abusive relationships in the hope that their partners will change.

Pulane Choane/Bloemfontein Courant