Be smart, don't start!

Anke Routh
During the week of 25th-30th of June Dr. Lemmer High School celebrated the annual National Health Week with the theme: Mental fitness and Health. This campaign aimed at increasing awareness on a topic that has seemingly been abused but which still remains highly of concern in our town: Alcohol and Drug use, especially amongst the youth.
Our principal, Mr. Britz, in collaboration with various social workers in Rehoboth, organised radio talks that were broadcast together with heartwrenching testimonies by young teens who have had their lives devastated by these evils. “Hopefully they might listen to the warnings of their fellow peers,” commented Social worker Mrs Spiegel during one of the live radio broadcasts.
As this years’ health week was solely focused on enhancing mental health, the spotlight was put on a substance that has one of the most complicated, yet under-emphasised , effect on the functioning of the human brain and psychology: Marijuana.
Due to the escalating usage of this particular substance amongst Rehoboth youth, a fearless group of aspiring young individuals took the lead to slowly, but surely, rid our school - if not our community as a whole - of this horrendous trend. The Teenagers Against Drugs and Alcohol (TADA) organise various activities in and around the school in order to create awareness on the dangers of substance abuse, whatever form it may take. Their main focus, however, is directed towards dramatically eradicating the escalating marijuana use amongst our own learners, as we create the future.
This seemingly harmless hallucinogen has some very serious effects on the natural functioning of the brain. Marijuana inhibits short-term memory, slows reaction time, and impairs visual tracking (the ability to follow moving objects accurately). Frequent use is also linked to cognitive impairment (an inability to abstract and understand concepts) and difficulty in studying. However, in most teens these symptoms go unnoticed as they think it’s just part of the 'trip scene'. After being made aware of these dangers, however, many young people don’t even flinch.
TADA members have actively voiced their opinions on the increasing use of “dagga, ganga, garu or keif” as it is commonly known. This they do in collaboration with school representatives, church leaders, as well as local police authorities. A spectacular example of this is the groups’ participation in the International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking this previous Saturday. “We hope to encourage our fellow learners to do the right thing. I’d rather be high on grades than on drugs,” commented Max Kortjie, senior learner and spokesperson of TADA.