Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jan 2008
Source: Barbados Advocate (Barbados)
Copyright: Barbados Advocate 2008
Contact:  http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3499
Author: Akilah Bishop
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

IT IS YOUR LIFE, YOUR COMMUNITY AND THERE IS NO PLACE FOR DRUGS:

"This is a New Year, a new start and new time to  improve the state of
our health, minds and bodies. Use  of drugs disrupts all of these. In
fact, drugs destroy  lives and communities, undermine sustainable
human  development and generate crime and affect all sectors  of
society in our country, affect the freedom of  development of young
people - the world's most valuable  asset."

This statement was made by Tessa Chaderton-Shaw,  Manager of the
National Council on Substance Abuse at  the launch of Drug Awareness
Month on January 9th at  the NCSA headquarters. Chaderton-Shaw noted
that the  effect of drugs was also devastating on a small  developing
economy, as is the case in Barbados. She  then appealed to Barbadians
to reflect on the theme of  Drug Awareness Month for 2008, "My Life,
My Community,  There is no Place for Drugs".

Chaderton-Shaw stated that it was important that all  sectors in
Barbados join the NCSA in the fight against  drug abuse, since it
affected all sectors and the  sustainability of our country. She said,
"The NCSA  wishes to mobilise all sectors of our society "  schools,
tertiary institutions, the workplace, civil  society, sporting
fraternities, social services,  service clubs, NGOs, community based
organisations,  places of entertainment, bars, rum shops and the hotel
 sector." She urged these sectors to strengthen  partnerships with the
NCSA and apart from being  involved in the work of the NCSA, also play
their part  in the resolution of this social problem. She stated,  "It
is necessary to collectively have a responsibility  to arrest the drug
problem and develop strategies to  find root causes and change
negative behaviour to  positive behaviour." She also made it clear
that  parents must assume their responsibility to inform  their
children about drugs and the effects ! of drugs,  since they play a
major role in moulding their  children's behaviour. She told parents
they must  "exercise influence, establish boundaries and teach  them
to refrain from instant gratification". Noting  recent statistics from
CASA (Centre for Counselling and  Addiction Support Alternatives),
Chaderton-Shaw  explained that the 13-21 age group is the one of most 
concern since drug use is increasing among this age  group, as well as
the fact that this is a "pivotal and  critical point in youth's
lives". Marijuana use  presented the highest incidence in this age
group as  well, followed by alcohol. In light of this  information,
Chaderton-Shaw urged parents to seek help  from drug service providers
when they identify that  their children are using drugs.

One concern for the NCSA is that some schools seem  reluctant to come
forward and report any incidents of  drug use among students. She
warned that ignoring this  fact could only exacerbate the problem.
"Some schools  seem reluctant to come forward. I encourage school 
administration to wrestle the problem before it gets  out of hand,"
said Chaderton-Shaw. Chaderton-Shaw noted  that the theme "My Life, My
Community, No Place for  Drugs" will be filtered into other programmes
 throughout the year, for example, "My Life, My  Education, No Place
for Drugs" and "My Life, My Career,  No Place for Drugs".
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin