We must all stand up against drug abuse

Editor, RE: “Right to protection from alcohol, tobacco and narcotics” (The New Times, December 7). It’s the core responsibility of all rightful members of society to protect the young generation from dangerous drugs like tobacco, opium and alcohol. People in institutions like schools, churches and families must keep an eye on our children the way people are always alert with terrorism. Drugs are destroying the youths of tomorrow among societies. During the holidays, children need to be protected from wild surrounding or environment that might affect them. For instance, who are the helpers in our families that stay with our children? Most children start being spoiled as a result of the bandwagon effects right from where they stay, in the house, through neighbours or through the friends of the parents or friends of the children. As a lecturer of journalism, I often meet students who are already on drugs and believe me it takes one courage to speak about drug abuse while teaching. Students who are on drugs will hate a teacher or lecturer or a religious leader who talks against drug abuse, they will consider them old fashioned. Schools and colleges need to strengthen counseling through mentorship programmes to change the attitudes of students toward drugs. This can be done right from primary to the university level. Many kids across East Africa are lured in to drug abuse through uncontrolled peer groups and permissiveness. The symptoms for the youths who are addicted to these drugs include poor performance in class; they dont want to wash their clothes; students start isolating from others; they hate combing hair and brushing shoes; engage in abnormal talks, while others like chewing gums to kill the smile; others become hostile even toward their parents or teachers. These people are exposed to death and mental health complications, among others. The law of drug abuse must continue to be very strong among countries; more articles and drama and documentaries should be produced in the media; we need to strengthen parental care, establish youth festivals about drug abuse, promote counseling among communities, encourage positive voluntary activities among the youth, encourage the reading culture and control what our children watch and listen to through different channels. Children are the future of tomorrow and world is a construction through rightful members of society, generally, it cannot be build under the guise of drug abuse. Henry Mapesa

Opinions

We must all stand up against drug abuse