Matric Student Expelled for Selling Xanax at Mitchell's Plain School

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has expressed its alarm over a concerning incident involving a matric student allegedly selling prescription medication, Xanax, at a high school in Mitchell’s Plain, raising renewed discussions on the issue of drug abuse in the country's academic institutions.

Xanax, also known as Alprazolam, is a prescription drug utilised in managing anxiety and panic disorders. It falls under the drug class of benzodiazepines, which act on the brain and nervous system to create a calming effect. Abuse of these drugs often leads to detrimental effects on personal relationships, careers, physical, and emotional health, necessitating cautious use and consumption.

The school, whose identity has not been divulged, has reportedly taken swift action against the student following the incident. Millicent Merton from the WCED has confirmed that the learner, after a thorough disciplinary process starting June this year, has been expelled.

Despite the small number of reported incidents tied to Xanax, the WCED considers this event a matter of priority advocating for drug-free educational environments across South Africa.

Philadelphia Hartzenberg, a concerned community activist, echoed the need to raise public awareness regarding prescription drug abuse, particularly among parents, emphasizing the necessity for a doctor’s prescription for medications like Xanax.

The department, however, did not confirm if the drug sale occurred within the school premises.