COMMUNITY CASE STUDY article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Addictions
Working title: Unshackling our Youth from the Chains of Substance Abuse as Disaster Risk
Provisionally accepted
- 1Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
- 2North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- 3University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- 4University of KwaZulu-Natal College of Humanities, Durban, South Africa
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This study, a collaboration between the University of Limpopo and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), aimed to generate baseline evidence to inform the development of an innovative performative arts intervention, designed to engage young people with scientific knowledge on substance use disorders (SUD), mental health, and behavioural risks. Using focus group discussions and key informant interviews across three communities in the Sekhukhune District, data were collected from youth, community members, and traditional governance structures. The findings reveal that generational poverty, high unemployment, and the socio-economic impacts of mining investments – particularly their role in driving school dropout rates, are central drivers of youth substance abuse. Dagga, nyaope (whoonga), and cocaine emerged as the most frequently abused substances, with consequences ranging from family breakdown and crime to the erosion of social cohesion. The study concludes that substance abuse in Sekhukhune reflects both structural inequalities and weak institutional support, underscoring a multisectoral response. Evidence highlights an urgent need for school-based prevention initiatives, safe recreational alternatives, and the active engagement of faith-based and community institutions to mitigate risks and strengthen youth resilience.
Keywords: Communication Ecology, peer pressure, Sekhukhune, strategies, substance abuse, Youth
Received: 09 Jun 2025; Accepted: 11 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Sobane, Lunga, Ramaphakela and Baloyi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Caiphus Baloyi
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