Newcastle’s teen drug epidemic: Children as young as 12 using hard drugs

Drug abuse remains a persistent challenge in communities throughout South Africa, and Newcastle is no exception.

According to various entities, alarmingly, the town has seen a rise in teenage involvement in substance abuse.

What initially started as experimentation with alcohol among local teens has alarmingly escalated. Many are now turning to highly addictive and dangerous drugs, elevating the situation to critical levels that demand immediate action

Newcastle Community Policing Forum (CPF) Chairperson, Ismaeel Dhalech, shared his concerns, noting the difficulty in determining exactly how many teenagers are involved in drug use. However, he stressed that the situation was dire, with drug abuse infiltrating every suburb and part of Newcastle.

“Teenagers as young as 13 are using drugs. The most common substances we’re seeing include crystal meth, rock (crack cocaine), cat (Methcathinone), and whoonga,” Dhalech stated, underscoring the severity of the problem.

Nokukhanya Ndlovu, a social worker with the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA), agreed with Dhalech and confirmed that drug abuse among children in Newcastle was a growing concern.

According to Ndlovu, children as young as 12 are using hard drugs. “We’ve encountered youngsters using crystal meth, whoonga, and crack cocaine in various parts of town. The problem is getting worse,” Ndlovu pointed out.

Ndlovu further explained that in different areas of Newcastle, the types of drugs used varied. “In Newcastle West, crystal meth, crack cocaine, and heroin are more commonly found among children, while in Newcastle East, drugs like whoonga, crack cocaine, cat, and even substances like benzine are being used,” she said. The situation was becoming increasingly dangerous for these young people, who were falling deeper into addiction.

Adding to the growing concerns, Hamza Randeree of Optimus Protection Services highlighted a disturbing trend that has emerged in recent years.

Teenage girls are becoming frequent users of these drugs, a shift that opens them up to a whole host of dangers. “Young girls are now more commonly using drugs than boys. They get goofed and expose themselves to potential crimes like robbery or even rape,” Randeree explained.

Dhalech echoed this sentiment, sharing that this has already happened in Newcastle. The vulnerability of these teens has left them at the mercy of criminal elements in the town, making the situation all the more dire.

Availability of drugs fueling the problem

One of the primary drivers behind the increase in teenage drug use is the easy availability of drugs in Newcastle. “Drugs are everywhere and they are cheap. They’re so easily accessible that dealers even deliver to homes. It’s like they run their own Uber service,” said Dhalech, highlighting this disturbing reality has only exacerbated the issue, with teenagers gaining access to these harmful substances with little effort.

Ndlovu added that society has also normalised drug usage. “While cannabis is now legal, when young children start using it in school, they develop a tolerance and look for something that will create that high feeling that they first experienced. Then there are adults who will send a 14-year-old to buy cannabis for them, and the youngster gets curious and start using it himself and eventually moves on to harder drugs. By the time they are in their 20s, they realise they have a problem.”

Parental awareness and involvement

When asked what could be done to address this concerning issue, Dhalech emphasised the importance of parents becoming more involved in their children’s lives and monitoring their behaviour closely.

“Parents need to pay attention to any changes in their child’s personality. Look for warning signs. Monitor how they’re spending their money as well. Rather deposit their allowance into a bank account instead of giving them cash, and if they start withdrawing money, ask where it’s being spent,” he urged.

Ndlovu echoed Dhalech’s sentiments, urging parents to form strong relationships with their children and to stay vigilant for any signs of drug use. “Each parent has their own way of raising their child, but it’s important to get to know them. Look for behavioural changes, and remember, having red eyes isn’t always an indication of drug use. Parents need to educate themselves about the effects of different drugs. Research the symptoms so you know what to look out for,” Ndlovu advised.

Hamza Randeree added that Optimus Protection Services and other security companies were working closely with the Newcastle South African Police Service (SAPS) to clamp down on drug dealers in an effort to curb the issue before it spirals further out of control. “We are doing everything in our power to prevent the situation from worsening,” he said.

SAPS response to the drug crisis

Newcastle SAPS spokesperson, Lizzy Arumugam, confirmed that the CPF, Optimus Protection Services, and other security companies were collaborating with the SAPS in a concerted effort to tackle the town’s drug problem.

Although she could not provide exact statistics on drug abuse, Arumugam stressed that arrests were being made.

“We’re actively arresting drug dealers in town. The most common drugs we’ve encountered are crack cocaine, mandrax, and crystal meth. We’re determined to resolve the issue,” she stated.

The deadly consequences of cheap drugs

While efforts are being made to address the crisis, Charles Steyn of Magenta Emergency Medical Services expressed concerns over the increasing prevalence of cheap, impure drugs circulating in Newcastle. “When you look at the main routes running past and through Newcastle, drug dealers will bring in cheap drugs to sell in town and these drugs are extremely dangerous, as they are far from being pure. These are drugs that will literally eat away at your tissue and are at times mixed with substances such as ratex. But youngsters will buy these drugs to save money,” noted Steyn.

He further added these types of drugs will first start among street children and then start seeping into local schools, exposing children to horrendous dangers.

He warned that if these drug users don’t receive proper medical treatment and rehabilitation, they could die.

“Seeing people use these drugs is scary. Some start convulsing, some start foaming from their mouths, it is horrible, and people need to be aware of the dangers of these drugs,” Steyn cautioned.

A call for community action

With teenage drug use in Newcastle showing no signs of slowing down, it’s clear that a collective effort is needed to combat the crisis. Arumugam urged residents to report drug dealers operating in their areas, helping to rid Newcastle’s streets of these harmful substances. “We need to work together as a community to protect our children from the dangers of drugs,” Arumugam appealed.

As drug abuse among teenagers continues to rise, with children as young as 12 and 13 experimenting with hard drugs like crystal meth, the need for action has never been more urgent.

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