war with the drugs
Ladies and Gentlemen where do we stand on the war WITH drugs
Right across the globe, the youth is faced with numerous challenges. The worst and most pressing include unemployment, neglect from parents or guardians, sexual abuse, allurements into engaging in criminal activities and poverty. In many occasions, these challenges have pushed the youth into drug abuse. Once hooked, chances in life for the youth caught in the alcohol and drug abuse web quickly diminish and lives are easily ruined.
According to a national survey on the magnitude of alcohol and drug abuse, the abuse of alcohol in the country is worrying. The figures and facts from this report indicate that 13 per cent of teenagers in the 10 to 14 years age bracket have used an intoxicating substance, mostly alcohol followed by cigarettes. In the 15 to 24 year bracket, a worrying 11.7 per cent are currently hooked to alcohol; while 6.2 per cent are regular users of tobacco products.
The sad reality presented by the figures and facts on drugs is that 14.8 per cent of the respondents aged between 10 and 14 years old are completely oblivious of the risks associated with substance abuse.
Our Government is fully committed to the attainment of high and sustainable levels of economic development within a stable and secure environment. I am aware that this commitment cannot translate into reality if our youth are sucked into alcohol and drug abuse. Moreover, drug abuse-related ailments and complications are an additional burden to the Government which must be avoided at all costs.
As you deliberate on the various issues touching on youth and drugs, therefore, I urge you to reflect on the negative impact the vice has on our society and come up with pragmatic and sustainable interventions. Since drug abuse and related disease burden is a drain to the health budget
The intervention regime you evolve from your deliberations should consider, among other key issues, the need to strengthen enforcement of
Right across the globe, the youth is faced with numerous challenges. The worst and most pressing include unemployment, neglect from parents or guardians, sexual abuse, allurements into engaging in criminal activities and poverty. In many occasions, these challenges have pushed the youth into drug abuse. Once hooked, chances in life for the youth caught in the alcohol and drug abuse web quickly diminish and lives are easily ruined.
According to a national survey on the magnitude of alcohol and drug abuse, the abuse of alcohol in the country is worrying. The figures and facts from this report indicate that 13 per cent of teenagers in the 10 to 14 years age bracket have used an intoxicating substance, mostly alcohol followed by cigarettes. In the 15 to 24 year bracket, a worrying 11.7 per cent are currently hooked to alcohol; while 6.2 per cent are regular users of tobacco products.
The sad reality presented by the figures and facts on drugs is that 14.8 per cent of the respondents aged between 10 and 14 years old are completely oblivious of the risks associated with substance abuse.
Our Government is fully committed to the attainment of high and sustainable levels of economic development within a stable and secure environment. I am aware that this commitment cannot translate into reality if our youth are sucked into alcohol and drug abuse. Moreover, drug abuse-related ailments and complications are an additional burden to the Government which must be avoided at all costs.
As you deliberate on the various issues touching on youth and drugs, therefore, I urge you to reflect on the negative impact the vice has on our society and come up with pragmatic and sustainable interventions. Since drug abuse and related disease burden is a drain to the health budget
The intervention regime you evolve from your deliberations should consider, among other key issues, the need to strengthen enforcement of