Alcohol and Drug Abuse Chat
Bantsi Makgothi

Welcome to the Acohol and Drug Abuse chat hosted by Bantsi Makgothi, a16 year old Youth Delegate from Gaborone, Botswana.  Bantsi is extremely concerned about Drug and Alcohol abuse because it is a very personal experience for her and for many of her friends.  Together they are discussing ways in which they can start a group, like Alcoholics Anynomous, that can help young people in Botswana find a better way of life.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS FROM BANTSI

As I grow up and open my eyes to issues concerning the youth of today, I have realized how our governments sometimes take serious issues for granted.

For example, in my community, alcohol and drug abuse seem to be increasing with the rising and setting of the sun.  My government is well aware of the situation and they are doing absolutely NOTHING about it.  

The research I have done with my uncle shows that about 87% of teenagers in my community are now alcohol and drug addicts.  And in my schools ALONE about 90% are also involved in these sickening activities. I fail to understand why they do this. I got part of the answer from my personal experience.

I lost a dear friend of mine to drug and alcohol abuse.  When it happened, I felt as if there was no reason to live if we were going to die before we could even reach the goals we had set in life. I felt empty, hopeless and very lost.

The biggest mistake I made was trying to find myself in a bottle of alcohol. After three months of my biggest mistake, I woke up one morning and said, "Bad Girl!  Wake up and smell the coffee.  You are never going to find yourself by doing this."  I then decided to go out and look for help.  To my disappointment there was nowhere to go and luckily for me, I had friends who supported and helped me find myself.

I still don't understand why other young people continue drinking.  If I managed to stop with help from friends, why can't they? Why are they throwing their future down the drain?

Before I came to the Summit, my friends and I began talking about how we could help others in our community with this problem.  My mission at the Summit is to gather ideas from my new "international" friends about how to help these "lost youth." 

Do you have any ideas that could help us?