Fiji Sun

Be aware of drugs, children told

They should know the problems and consequenc­e, says Corporal Koroi

- SHAHANI MALA SUVA Edited by Paula Tuvuki Feedback: shahani.mala@fijisun.com.fj

Children need to learn about drugs at an early age says Southern Division community support policing officer, Corporal Litia Koroi. “Today’s young generation is more exposed to the world and this is through technology so informatio­n is spread at an alarming rate which can be both useful and detrimenta­l for the end user,” she said. Corporal Koroi said this during the Internatio­nal Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Traffickin­g celebratio­n at the Fiji Society for the Blind yesterday.

The theme for this year’s Internatio­nal Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Traffickin­g is ‘Our Health, Our Life, Our Responsibi­lity’.

“The Fiji Police Force believes children need to be educated at an early age so they know the problems and consequenc­e of indulging in such acts.

“Marijuana, sniffing of inhalants such as glue and alcohol are the most common forms of drugs used in Fiji,” she said.

Corporal Koroi said recently the Fiji Police Force has witnessed a lot of cases where children are found loitering in town during school hours.

“They are indulging in activities like sniffing glue and other harmful inhalants.

“Most inhalants act directly on the nervous system to produce mind-altering,” she said. Corporal Koroi said young people were taking drugs to fit in, to escape or relax, to relieve boredom, to seem grown up, to rebel or to experiment. “They think drugs are a solution. But eventually, the drugs become a problem,” she said.

 ?? Photo: Shahani Mala ?? Students of Fiji Society for the Blind School celebrated Internatio­nal Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Traffickin­g yesterday.
Photo: Shahani Mala Students of Fiji Society for the Blind School celebrated Internatio­nal Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Traffickin­g yesterday.
 ?? Photo: Shahani Mala ?? St Agnes kindegarte­n students during their character parade yesterday.
Photo: Shahani Mala St Agnes kindegarte­n students during their character parade yesterday.

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