TThe MISA Women’s Forum in KwaZulu-Natal, under the guidance of Renee Ntshingila, hosted a community dialogue to establish the reasons why young people abuse substances in order to play a more active role in preventing this scourge. 

S'thembiso Mdlanzi, Information Officer the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA), was invited to talk about the dangers of abusing substances, while Sibusiso Buthelezi and Gugu Msimang of World Changers Academy were also invited to motivate young people in the community.

Sibusiso and Gugu spoke candidly about their respective pasts, their reasons for abusing substances, and how their lives have changed since they stopped abusing substances.

Community Care Givers were also invited to talk about the link between substance abuse and HIV/AIDS.

Renee is in the process of starting a project called DOPE (Drug Omission thru Peer Education) to combat substance abuse in her community.

"I want the youth in my community to know that we are all winners from birth and we should look after our bodies and not harm them through substance abuse,” she says. “Substance abuse also has an enormously negative social impact and is something that should be prevented at all cost."

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