{"id":89230,"date":"2015-05-15T08:15:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-15T06:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/89230\/creating-an-awareness-of-drugs-in-the-community\/"},"modified":"2015-05-15T08:55:53","modified_gmt":"2015-05-15T06:55:53","slug":"creating-an-awareness-of-drugs-in-the-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2015\/05\/15\/creating-an-awareness-of-drugs-in-the-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating an awareness of drugs in the community"},"content":{"rendered":"

Drugs in the Elsburg policing precinct are a serious concern for the SAPS.<\/p>\n

To this end, members of the Local Drug Action Committee and the Elsburg SAPS conducted a door-to-door awareness campaign in Rondebult Extension Two, last Saturday.<\/p>

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The police visited 120 households.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe purpose of the visits was to educate the community about the dangers of using drugs,\u201d said Const Daphney Phooko, communications officer for the Elsburg SAPS.<\/p>

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\u201cDuring the visits, drug users were identified and their details recorded for referrals.\u201d<\/p>\n

The police distributed about 600 pamphlets during the course of the visits.<\/p>\n

The pamphlets dealt with substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, firearm safety awareness and street children.<\/p>\n

The police tried to get the message across that people can become addicted to over-the-counter medication as easily as they become addicted to illegal substances.<\/p>\n

They pointed out to the community that it is not easy to see if a person is newly addicted to drugs, as they will try to hide their substance abuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt most cases, the problem is noticed only when the child starts to cause problems within the family, community or at school,\u201d said Phooko.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will either start stealing portable items lying around, or sell their belongings.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir eating and sleeping patterns change and they don\u2019t want to associate with the \u2018crowd\u2019 or children their own age.\u201d<\/p>\n

The police urged the community to come forward if they know of people addicted to drugs and to create awareness of the problem, so that substance abusers can receive the necessary help.<\/p>\n

During the campaign, community members suggested that a special box should be placed somewhere where people can place reports of drug-related incidents.<\/p>\n

They also said that more awareness campaigns should be conducted.<\/p>\n

Phooko said that the most common drugs being used in the Elsburg area included nyaope, dagga, Kat and cocaine.<\/p>\n