Pubdate: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 Source: New Vision (Uganda) Copyright: 2007 New Vision Contact: http://www.newvision.co.ug/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/522 Author: Caroline Ayugi MOST GULU YOUTH TURN TO DRUGS Most youth in Gulu district have resorted to use of drugs as an assumed remedy to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychiatrist at the Gulu mental health unit has revealed. Dr. Thomas Oyok said the abuse of drugs had resulted into increased cases of mental illness and poor performance at school. Speaking at a training workshop for 40 teachers last week, Oyok said many of the students abusing drugs were nursing thoughts of committing suicide and some had experienced nightmares. "Teachers might think a student is a slow learner but when you dig deep, you find that he might have lost both parents, was abducted and witnessed atrocities during the insurgency in the region." He advised teachers to identify such cases and recommend them for treatment. The community liaison officer at the Gulu central Police station, Johnson Kilama, said the Police on average arrest four teenage drug abusers every week, including girls. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek