The topic that my group has chosen is safety. The sub-topic that I will be writing about is the issue of health safety in the Stellenbosch environment. I will not only be dealing with physical health but mental health too which includes alcohol consumption and drug abuse, smoking, pollution and depression.
The first issue that will be discussed is that of alcohol consumption in Stellenbosch. In order to gain an objective perspective, as I am conducting “hometown anthropology”, I spoke to fellow students about various issues concerned with alcohol consumption. The issues relating to this subject that were discussed are: the amount of alcohol consumed weekly, the occasions for consuming alcohol and if students know the risks of consuming large amounts of alcohol for a long period of time, the reasons for the over consumption of alcohol as well as whether or not students believed that they had a dependency on alcohol and if so, why?
There was a clear link between the occasions when alcohol is consumed and the amount. For students who enjoy socialising at clubs and bars the amount of alcohol consumed is clearly higher than those who do not enjoy socialising in those types of places. The amount of alcohol that is consumed by those who do not prefer socialising in those environments is minimalistic compared to those who do with the average amount spent on alcohol ranging from R120 –R 310 per socialising occasion.
Generally, those who were interviewed believe that they know of the risks involved in when excessively consuming alcohol such as alcohol poisoning, liver disease and the occurrence of drunk driving. However, those interviewed did not know about diseases such as brain damage, diabetes and heart failure that one can get if over consumption of alcohol occurs for long periods of time.
A large percentage of students interviewed did admit they had previously risked their health due to over consumption of alcohol. These risks ranged from minor physical injuries such as cuts and bruises to more serious injuries such as broken limbs and car accidents as a result of drunken driving. The reasons given for the over consumption of alcohol included boredom, socialising, tests and the fact that it boosts confidence levels in social situations. The majority of students deny having any dependence on alcohol even though there were some who stated that they drank otherwise they would not have fun.
- Sarah Otto (15659739)
Health Safety: Drugs
The second topic that I will be focusing on is that of drugs in Stellenbosch. Speaking to students on this issue, the most common drug that is brought up besides dagga is tik. It is widely known that tik is one of the most used drugs in the Western Cape, especially in areas such as the Cape Flats. It is clear that from speaking to students that have done drugs that these products are very easy to find in Stellenbosch as people are selling them in car parks, class and clubs.
However, this isn’t only a problem found within the student population in Stellenbosch but also in the homeless population. After speaking to numerous students about the drug problem in Stellenbosch, many have spoken about their experiences and the most prominent issue that arises is how widespread the use is of date rape drugs. After interviewing female students about this issue, it seems that this is a bigger problem than one initially thinks as not many female students openly talk about this issue and many have the opinion that “it will not happen to me”.
When questioned why they use drugs, many people claimed that they do it for social reasons. The most commonly used drug used amongst those interviewed is dagga with the minority admitting to using prescription pills.
The students interviewed that expressed strong opinions against using drugs seem to think that this problem relates more to “the others” such as the homeless and the gangs that operate in Stellenbosch rather than the student population. This is concerning as it reveals how some students on campus are not aware of how widespread this problem is within Stellenbosch.
- Sarah Otto (15659739)
Health Safety: Pollution
The third issue that I will be discussing is that of pollution in Stellenbosch. Last year, there were numerous fires on the various mountains in Stellenbosch. This is a health hazard because of the amount of smoke produced. Smoke inhalation can result in situations where students experience intense coughing and shortness of breath. Many students on campus also suffer from allergies and as a result of the smoke become worse.
Another issue of pollution that is present in Stellenbosch is in connection with agriculture. The pollution in question is the chemicals that are used on the farmlands. The wind disperses these pesticides so they actually spread to areas where they were not supposed to and come into contact with people. There have been complaints of individuals contracting acute sicknesses from these pesticides with children more vulnerable.
The issue of water on campus is also a concerning one. Many students who live in residences tell of how they were warned not to drink the Stellenbosch water as it is not the cleanest and there have also been incidences where students have gotten sick from drinking this water. On the other hand, there are students who have not had any trouble with the water whatsoever.
- Sarah Otto (15659739)
Health Safety: Physical and Mental Health
The fourth topic that will be discussed is that of physical and mental health. This is quite an appropriate topic with regards to the student population at the moment as exams are looming. Looking around, one finds many students who are either a bit frazzled, depressed or are in a bit of a panic. These are symptoms of mental disorders such as panic disorders. One should note that this does not necessarily indicate that these individuals have a mental disorder but it is clear that academic stress and workload are putting students mentally under strain. It is clear that the occurrence of stress during this time of the year is due to exams and year end projects. Furthermore, the bad physical health of students during this time of year is also evident. Looking around, one notices a lot of students that are worn out and sleep deprived. For many students it is also very difficult to do exercise or prepare a healthy meal which also affects the state of their physical and mental health.
- Sarah Otto (15659739)
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