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.
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