Strategise to tackle student drug abuse problem — STU
SIBU: Sarawak Teachers’ Union ( STU) calls for prevention strategies including early intervention and prevention in school to tackle the problem of drug abuse among students.
STU president Jisin Nyud gave this suggestion in response to Pengasih Association Malaysia president Datuk Mohd Yunus Pathi’s call for schools to conduct surprise urine tests on students to curb drug trafficking and abuse.
“Early intervention and prevention should reduce drug abuse in schools.
“This is where the National Anti Drug Agency (AADK) can come in. Random urine tests done on students should involve all schools.
“There should be a programme to develop skills and attitudes that keep them away from drugs.
“Lastly, provide more allocations for schools to set up deterrent activities such as anticrime clubs,” Jisin told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Mohd Yunus had recently called for schools to cooperate by lodging reports whenever their students were suspected of drug activities. Schools must not sweep the problem under the carpet for fear of tarnishing their image.
Jisin pointed out that the rise in number of school students nationwide involved in drugs last year had reached alarming proportions. He said schools and parents should remain alert even though the number of drug abusers among students was under control, and those involved were being closely monitored and given counselling.
“We must be curious to know the extent of drug abuse among students or children; the reasons for it and identify the schools affected; what parents can do to combat the problem as well as present and future programmes for prevention,” he said.
“Many wonder why students abuse drugs. Is acceptance by peers the reason or is it society’s frequent exposure to pills and liquor through ads, movies and television; a need to experiment; rebelliousness; low self- esteem or even simple pleasure?”
He said parents and teachers must be aware of any abnormal behaviour among children which might trigger an alert. Notice a pattern like habit of skipping school or arriving late for class, having low grades, memory gaps and showing reduced physical endurance.
Recently, Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) expressed support for Mohd Yunus’ statement for schools to cooperate with relevant agencies to tackle drug abuse among students.
TheMalaysianCrimePrevention Foundation ( MCPF) felt that surprise urine tests should only be conducted in schools where students were suspected of involvement in dadah.
MCPF senior vice- chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye opined that it was not practical for the exercise to be carried out in every school.
Early intervention and prevention should reduce drug abuse in schools. Jisin Nyud, STU president