By Michael Nnebife
An officer in charge of Drugs Demand, Reduction and Training, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Anambra State Command, Mrs Priscilla Onyema, has appealed to critical education stakeholders to initiate a policy against the sale of hard drugs, alcohol and cigarettes behind school gates, to curtail the increasing rate of illicit drug abuse among children.
Mrs Onyema made the appeal while speaking in a media programme recently in Awka, the Anambra State Capital.
Onyema noted that where drugs, cigarettes and alcohol are being sold, the users usually stayed there while taking them.
This, she said, exposed the minds of the school children to the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.
She advised that school authorities should collaborate with the government, community leaders, and the locals of any place where a school is located for the effective implementation of the policy.
According to her, ‘Any person who wants to open a shop around a school’s premises, their target customers are the schoolchildren and their teachers.
‘So, the authorities of the school can go and discuss with the person not to sell these drugs, alcohol and cigarettes because of these children,’ she said.
The NDLEA officer urged schools to partner the agency in the fight against drug abuse by inviting the agency for sensitization and talks with the schoolchildren on the dangers of drug abuse.
She frowned at the expulsion of a school child for drug use or abuse by school authorities.
‘This is not a good approach. If you expel this child, what you are telling him is to go and continue.
‘His parents will not be happy with him; so the only place he will find comfort is in the arms of those that support him to take drugs,’ Onyema said.
She suggested that school guidance counselors should be trained on early signs of drug use.
According to her, this would help to provide early intervention for the child.
