Rory
03-13-07, - 12:22 AM
http://www.thenassauguardian.com/national_local/314189380646614.php
By INDERIA SAUNDERS, Guardian Staff Reporter
Health Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, yesterday said that as The Bahamas experiences a reduction in drug use, reports indicate that marijuana and alcohol were becoming the drug of choice for high school students.
At the official opening of the Bahamas National Drug Council (BNDC)17th annual exhibition at the Marathon Mall, Dr Nottage said although social programs to reduce the demand for drugs in schools have been working, a "significant" number of chronic addicts continued to fuel the demand for drugs.
"Social reports indicated that there was a paradigm shift in the preference of drug use among students and that alcohol and marijuana were becoming the drugs of choice...additionally, seventh graders were becoming involved with drugs."
He pointed out that parents were needed in the war against drugs as they, especially ones with children between the ages of 8-14, have a very powerful influence on their children.
According to Dr Nottage, sociologists have said that young people in the mentioned age group normally condemn drug use, an attitude and behavior that is usually reinforced by involved parents. He pointed out that the "drug dilemma" - which involves the demand for drug, the illegal drug producing countries and huge profits from drug trafficking - in the nation is far too complex to be dealt with by a single anti-drug program.
"It involves issues of health, education, social policy, crime and public safety, encompassing constitutional, legal as well as basic human values," Dr Nottage said.
After this noted increase of drug use by minors at the junior and primary school level, the Ministry of Health and the BNDC will team up to implement a drug free school (DFS) initiative.
Marvin Hepburn, a senior health educator at the BNDC, explained that in the DFS program, a teacher, parent, or friend can recommend a student for a drug intervention if they feel that the person needs the help. An intervention is a drastic course of action that is taken after a student has been abusing a substance for period of time.
"It's a process where you have to actually get involved with the individual [by] individual counseling or group counseling, [you] have to find out all the surrounding parameters and facets that is going on with that individual," Mr Hepburn said.
In order to reform the young drug user, the BNDC intends to implement a number of methods including getting the student involved in urban renewal projects, taking them to churches as well as getting them involved in a youth or marching band program.
By INDERIA SAUNDERS, Guardian Staff Reporter
Health Minister Dr Bernard Nottage, yesterday said that as The Bahamas experiences a reduction in drug use, reports indicate that marijuana and alcohol were becoming the drug of choice for high school students.
At the official opening of the Bahamas National Drug Council (BNDC)17th annual exhibition at the Marathon Mall, Dr Nottage said although social programs to reduce the demand for drugs in schools have been working, a "significant" number of chronic addicts continued to fuel the demand for drugs.
"Social reports indicated that there was a paradigm shift in the preference of drug use among students and that alcohol and marijuana were becoming the drugs of choice...additionally, seventh graders were becoming involved with drugs."
He pointed out that parents were needed in the war against drugs as they, especially ones with children between the ages of 8-14, have a very powerful influence on their children.
According to Dr Nottage, sociologists have said that young people in the mentioned age group normally condemn drug use, an attitude and behavior that is usually reinforced by involved parents. He pointed out that the "drug dilemma" - which involves the demand for drug, the illegal drug producing countries and huge profits from drug trafficking - in the nation is far too complex to be dealt with by a single anti-drug program.
"It involves issues of health, education, social policy, crime and public safety, encompassing constitutional, legal as well as basic human values," Dr Nottage said.
After this noted increase of drug use by minors at the junior and primary school level, the Ministry of Health and the BNDC will team up to implement a drug free school (DFS) initiative.
Marvin Hepburn, a senior health educator at the BNDC, explained that in the DFS program, a teacher, parent, or friend can recommend a student for a drug intervention if they feel that the person needs the help. An intervention is a drastic course of action that is taken after a student has been abusing a substance for period of time.
"It's a process where you have to actually get involved with the individual [by] individual counseling or group counseling, [you] have to find out all the surrounding parameters and facets that is going on with that individual," Mr Hepburn said.
In order to reform the young drug user, the BNDC intends to implement a number of methods including getting the student involved in urban renewal projects, taking them to churches as well as getting them involved in a youth or marching band program.