Sharjah: The percentage of pupils addicted to drugs is not worrying, a police officer said.
Colonel Ali Salem Al Khayyal, Director of the Anti-Narcotics Department at Sharjah Police, reassured parents that the school environment is fine. He attributed this to tremendous efforts exerted to protect young people from falling into the web of self-destruction.
“The good results we achieved would not have been possible without the directives of Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, who said schools are a “red line” before drug traffickers, Colonel Al Khayyal said during a telephone conversation with Aman Ya Beladi programme telecast on Sharjah Radio.
He said police have taken all the necessary measures to protect students from falling into self-destructive practices. “Students who are caught using drugs by police are treated respectfully and measures taken against them are meant to protect and save them from getting addicted to drugs and getting them back on the right path,” Colonel Al Khayyal said.
He stressed the need for family control and cooperation by administrative and teaching staff that are required to immediately report abnormal behaviour of pupils to authorities concerned. He also called on parents and professionals in the education sector to strictly monitor students’ behaviour.
Schools and families are partners and they must collaborate to fight the danger of drugs, Colonel Al Khayyal said, and urged parents to devote their time to their children.
Educationists suggest conducting a regular blood test for pupils in preparatory and secondary schools, in order to detect drug addicts early and contain the hazard of drugs via early intervention.
They highlighted the need for collaborative efforts by all members of the community to fight the menace of drugs, which leads to community destruction.
Dr Ameen Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing at the Ministry of Health, said there is no excuse for parents who have not noticed changes in the behaviour of their children who have started using drugs. These behaviours, such as hallucinations, nervousness, headaches, can be clearly noticed.
He urged schools and universities to informthe competent authorities and parents in the event of clear signs of abnormal behaviour in pupils, to ensure saving those who are detected in the early stages.
Nawal Alramahi is a trainee at Gulf News
