Beware of holiday pressure

Moses Ndou

WE are in that season where some of our young people easily go astray. Out of need to make the most out of the holidays, they party and indulge in the most dangerous of substances.

As a young man living in the high density suburbs, I have oftentimes observed my peers “getting on the fast lane” to what they would call experimenting with life.

Days and nights out on this month of April is commonplace. These holidays are the first of the year. Friends who last saw each other in January reconnect and tell stories of their first term at school.

That story telling comes with heroism on taking drugs and going to night clubs. Some are quick to be swayed and end up spending time with those who have experienced the scene.

Come Easter time, some are hooked up. When the Trade Fair period nears, as many house parties involving under-aged youth are organised. Sadly, parents do not know of it.

Those petty cash gifts that come as allowances are used to organise everything.

“Do not worry my friend, my Dad has given me enough for the two of us. I will cover you,” a young person without money would be told by a rich friend. From there hell breaks loose at the house parties.

In essence, drug and alcohol abuse has come as a closing gap to the youths because they had a lot of idle time not going to school during lockdown.

During holidays, youths had nothing to do other than spending most of their time at home. Some youths get into the drug as a means of entertaining themselves which leads to addiction. While some manage  to come out healthy, the rest are left to pick up from life threatening experiences.

In other situations young people are raped by family members and close friends. Rehabilitation processes call for intervention at schools, family and societal level.

Role models play a role too.

But let us not forget that there are young people from broken families. There is a totally different story about the situation these kids face. Those who indulge in drugs say they do so in order to numb the pain of being abused and being lonely.

In such instances the youths face painful and hard conditions which affect their physical and  emotional standing.

Now that schools are back to normal teaching sessions, there is hope for a positive change. But also, there is an unresolved societal problem. These youths go back to school without getting counselling and this affects them because they continue with their lifestyle.

Without counselling,  their classroom attendance is affected. However, the youths need to be understood and it’s each and every one’s role to help them achieve their goals in whichever way.

Happy safe, and drug-free holidays to all young people.

Moses Ndou is a Bulawayo-based youth who finished his Advanced Levels last year and is currently awaiting to be inducted for tertiary education.