Tough calls we must make

THE revelation that children are shooting ice into their veins using shared needles is a shocker. It is a great concern. There is a line of thinking though that it is to be expected given the massive hauls from recent drug busts in Nadi.

Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran, after visiting shelters and charity organisations, tells us a story about children in Lautoka getting high on ice.

They are injecting themselves in the arm or on their forehead.

Some of these children are eventually contracting HIV. It is a wake-up call for us all.

It exposes the world of addiction and touches the vulnerable of society. In fact we have a crisis at our doorstep, and denial is not an option.

What we have demands attention and decisive action.

Ms Kiran’s account paints a worrying picture that raises the plight of some of our young children.

It speaks of systematic failure on our part to protect our most vulnerable group.

We know there is urgency needed to deal with what we have before us. But we must also accept that factors contributing to this crisis are complex.

Obviously we will have to place poverty, broken homes, lack of education perhaps, and a lack of opportunity to better the lives of our children as factors that could be contributing to this shocking state of affairs.

Pretending the problem does not exist is not the way to go.

We acknowledge the gravity of the situation and look up to the powers that be to take control.

In saying that, we add there has to be positive contribution from parents and guardians as well.

The fact that there is confirmation of ice use as well as cocaine among our young makes this more serious.

It takes us past the stage of alcohol and marijuana use.

So right now, we need open and honest discussions about drug use and addiction.

We need to talk about the root causes and the impact on families and communities.

Then we need to talk about prevention and early intervention programs that address underlying issues that drive children to drugs and eventually addiction.

We also need to talk about the family and the important support base they provide.

We know there is a need for the law to be proactive and effective against what appears to be a well-established trade.

This problem is also not just a Lautoka-based challenge. It is a national issue and demands a collective response from the Government, civil society, communities, and individuals.