No ‘drug candies’ are given away to Sharjah students, say police
sharjah — The Sharjah Police have confirmed that no illegal drug candies are being given away to students in the emirate, stressing that all social media posts about it are not true.
They also clarified that the viral video, which showed students who seemed to be high on drugs, was not taken in the UAE.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Brigadier Mohammed Rashid Al Bayat, director-general of police operations, said the police have tightened security and monitoring measures to protect educational institutions from illegal drugs.
“Once a case of drug abuse is detected among students, the police would immediately communicate with the management, social workers and counselling specialist of the school and initiate
Once a case of drug abuse is detected among students, the police would immediately communicate with school officials.”
Brig Mohammed Al Bayat, director-general of police operations.
Sharjah Police
the procedure that would save the student from addiction,” Brig Al Bayat said. He added that keeping the youth away from drugs also requires a collaboration among school administrations, families and community institutions.
Lt-Col Majid Al Assam, director of the anti-narcotics control department of the Sharjah Police, urged parents to maintain a solid relationship with their children and instil in them the values and morals that would help them stay away from drug use.
Educating the youth on the dangers of illegal drugs is also part of the police’s priorities, he added. In fact, the police have partnered with the Ministry of Education in implementing a number of awareness drives.
For those who may have already been exposed to drugs, the authorities provide them with the opportunity to undergo rehabilitation.
“The anti-narcotics law allows drug users to apply for treatment without being referred to the judiciary. These cases are dealt with in strict confidentiality,” said Lt-Col Al Assam.
Ramping up efforts to combat the narcotics trade, the police managed to bring down the number of cases by 60 per cent, with only 476 incidents reported in 2018.