We should all fight drug abuse to ensure safety
Jul 08, 2010
Why has Parliament shelved the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Bill 2005? This law is meant to curb the illicit use of drugs.
By Emilian Kayima
Why has Parliament shelved the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Bill 2005? This law is meant to curb the illicit use of drugs.
On Friday, July 9, the Police will celebrate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking which normally takes place on June 26 annually.
The Police brass band and the public will march from Old Kampala Secondary School to the National Theatre where a play Idle minds (omusokoto) will be launched.
This day was born out of a United Nations (UN) resolution in December 1987. This was the UN’s expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation between member states to free society of drug abuse.
In Uganda, the production, trafficking and abuse of drugs and other illicit substances is being vehemently addressed.
The Police have destroyed quite big chunks of land on which the Marijuana is grown. The Police has also apprehended those involved and has named and shamed them, but the problem has not been solved.
Stephen Van Cleave in his book: Counselling for substance abuse and addiction outlines seven factors that would increase the chances of both adults and adolescents to use drugs.
Cleave says broken families, lack of self-esteem, peer pressure, curiosity, cultural influences, parental drug abuse and lack of moral and spiritual values are likely to lead a person to use drugs.
Family remains the centre of a child’s life and if there is chaos in the family, it will show in a child. A nation can only benefit from properly brought up children.
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and his predecessor, Kofi Annan, have been key partners in fighting drug abuse.
In 2009, Ki-Moon called on all nations to join “together to help people suffering from drug addiction and to reduce the number of dangerous places on this planet where drugs are produced, trafficked and consumedâ€. In Uganda, the Police have followed up very closely.
Research shows that every year, 5 million people die from tobacco related illness, 2 million from alcohol abuse and 200,000 from drug abuse. How about those who die from drug related crimes like mob action, domestic violence, sexual offences, murders and acts of arson?
The 2009 World Drug report indicates that organised crime is makes more than $300b a year through drug trafficking.
In a vicious cycle, crime profits from drugs and drugs spread instability that enables crime to thrive. We should not leave the problem of drug abuse to the Police or state alone.
We all have an obligation to ensure our society is safe and secure for generations to come.
To start with, can Parliament pass the drugs Bill?
The media should stop portraying artistes and other people involved in drug abuse as celebrities because it negatively affects young people’s minds.
Then as law enforcement officers, our resolve must remain to fully fight this menace at all fronts; mobilise young people through intellectual engagements, provide alternative lifestyles as we meet them in schools and other forums.
Schools must start crime prevention clubs. Parents should also caution their children on drug abuse and they should act what they say.
The writer is the political commissar, Kampala Metropolitan Police
Why has Parliament shelved the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Bill 2005? This law is meant to curb the illicit use of drugs.
On Friday, July 9, the Police will celebrate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking which normally takes place on June 26 annually.
The Police brass band and the public will march from Old Kampala Secondary School to the National Theatre where a play Idle minds (omusokoto) will be launched.
This day was born out of a United Nations (UN) resolution in December 1987. This was the UN’s expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation between member states to free society of drug abuse.
In Uganda, the production, trafficking and abuse of drugs and other illicit substances is being vehemently addressed.
The Police have destroyed quite big chunks of land on which the Marijuana is grown. The Police has also apprehended those involved and has named and shamed them, but the problem has not been solved.
Stephen Van Cleave in his book: Counselling for substance abuse and addiction outlines seven factors that would increase the chances of both adults and adolescents to use drugs.
Cleave says broken families, lack of self-esteem, peer pressure, curiosity, cultural influences, parental drug abuse and lack of moral and spiritual values are likely to lead a person to use drugs.
Family remains the centre of a child’s life and if there is chaos in the family, it will show in a child. A nation can only benefit from properly brought up children.
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and his predecessor, Kofi Annan, have been key partners in fighting drug abuse.
In 2009, Ki-Moon called on all nations to join “together to help people suffering from drug addiction and to reduce the number of dangerous places on this planet where drugs are produced, trafficked and consumedâ€. In Uganda, the Police have followed up very closely.
Research shows that every year, 5 million people die from tobacco related illness, 2 million from alcohol abuse and 200,000 from drug abuse. How about those who die from drug related crimes like mob action, domestic violence, sexual offences, murders and acts of arson?
The 2009 World Drug report indicates that organised crime is makes more than $300b a year through drug trafficking.
In a vicious cycle, crime profits from drugs and drugs spread instability that enables crime to thrive. We should not leave the problem of drug abuse to the Police or state alone.
We all have an obligation to ensure our society is safe and secure for generations to come.
To start with, can Parliament pass the drugs Bill?
The media should stop portraying artistes and other people involved in drug abuse as celebrities because it negatively affects young people’s minds.
Then as law enforcement officers, our resolve must remain to fully fight this menace at all fronts; mobilise young people through intellectual engagements, provide alternative lifestyles as we meet them in schools and other forums.
Schools must start crime prevention clubs. Parents should also caution their children on drug abuse and they should act what they say.
The writer is the political commissar, Kampala Metropolitan Police