Pubdate: Fri, 26 Sep 2003 Source: New Vision (Uganda) Copyright: 2003 New Vision Contact: http://www.newvision.co.ug/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/522 Author: Richard Komakech TEACHERS APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT OVER DRUG ABUSE Kampala THE Uganda Christian Teachers Association (UCTA) has appealed to the Government to take serious action against drug abuse in schools. UCTA co-ordinator Charles Kamwesigye said this at a dialogue on drug abuse in schools recently at Hotel Equatoria. Kamwesigye said drug addiction was affecting students' performance in class and was a major cause for school dropouts. Family Life Network chairman Stephen Langa said the Government should improve law enforcement on access to drugs by teenagers. Langa said drug abuse was also a factor in the high crime rate in the country. A Butabika hospital psychiatrist, David Busangwa, said 20% of patients admitted to the hospital were a result of drug abuse. Busangwa said, "Most of these patients are school going children who have failed to cope with classroom challenges." He said some of the addictive drugs were bangi, marijuana, cocaine and glue fume. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake