The tragic death last week in Dubai of a teenager after he sniffed butane has brought the issue of substance abuse to the top of public awareness.
This is a tragedy. But it is also an incident from which we all can draw lessons.
At the government level, authorities are taking every measure to prevent illegal drugs and narcotics from entering the country, and they deserve full credit for keeping the UAE largely drug-free.
Those responsible for public health and education have a duty to raise awareness of the risks of abusing normal household substances — the reality is that it is impossible to prevent teens from experimenting with these products.
For parents, however, there is a responsibility and a duty to be fully aware of the dangers and the warning signs if your teens are experimenting and indulging in this habit.
Watch for the warning signs and act before it's too late.
