Substance abuse among rural female high school learners in the Northern Province

Abstract

The girl child seldom attracts the attention of researchers and practitioners of  ATOD; yet the chances of her exposure and vulnerability to substances are equal to those of male children. Where such substances are brewed and retailed at home, she, as part of the family system, may suffer doubly; first as a participant and second as a victim. Researchers in particular usually concentrate on male children as these are easy to find on the street, in prison, or even in shebeens and bar lounges, while the girl child seems inconspicuous. Becker (1994:1) aptly commented that, when a problem and its constituency are invisible to the majority of the public, how can a rural state develop the necessary support not only to acknowledge the problem and the need, but to develop excellence in the state's prevention and treatment services" as well. This paper focuses on the girl child as a participant (imbiber) and victim (the abused) of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in the Northern Province of the Republic of South Africa.