Pubdate: Sun, 13 May 2012
Source: Fiji Times (Fiji)
Copyright: 2012 Fiji Times Limited
Contact:  http://www.fijitimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3445
Author: Solomoni Biumaiono
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

TEACHERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Marijuana, tobacco, alcohol and kava use by students have decreased a 
lot according to an Impact Evaluation Report on the Training of 
Trainers for Teachers from 2009-2011 released by the National 
Substance Abuse Advisory Council recently.

The record in the decrease of drug and substance abused was based on 
the comparison of findings from two field researches conducted in 
2004 and 2010.

The 2010 research was conducted on a sample of 2141 students from 29 
secondary schools using the World Health Organisation's Global Youth 
Tobacco Survey.

Tobacco use by students decreased by 7 percent, alcohol by 13 
percent, kava by 16 percent marijuana by 8 percent.

It was noted that in the 2010 survey some students had practiced 
rubber smoking, glue and benzene sniffing but these are between 3 
percent for rubber smoke, 10 percent for glue sniffing and 13 percent 
for benzene sniffing.

The research also showed that efforts of various stakeholders such as 
the Police, Ministry of Health and teachers have made the difference 
in the decline in drugs and substance abuse in schools between 
2004-2010. The results of this research was released at a recent 
training of teachers in the Northern Division to deal with such problems.

A total of 34 teachers from 29 schools in the Macuata, Bua and 
Cakaudrove provinces attended the training.

The training focused on how teachers can address and counsel students 
on the issues of drugs, HIV AIDS and how they are interrelated with 
child abuse and violence against girls and women.

Teachers are trained to efficiently disseminate information on the four issues.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom