Joint efforts essential to curb drug abuse

A COMMUNITY-WIDE participatory approach is crucial to the accurate assessment of drug problems and identification of feasible solutions and execution of appropriate policies and programmes, said the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office.

"Drug abuse affects all sectors of society and countries at all levels of development, therefore drug demand reduction policies and programmes should address all sectors of society," Dato Seri Paduka Hj Eusoff Agaki Hj Ismail said yesterday.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 23rd International Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations for the Prevention of Drugs and Substance Abuse (IFNGO), he said that it is essential to collaborate among governments, NGOs, health professionals, youth and community organisations, employers' organisations, parents and teachers' associations and the private sector.

He said that such collaboration improves public awareness and enhances the capacity of communities to deal with the negative consequences of drug abuse. Dato Hj Eusoff Agaki said the fact that IFNGO is driven by non-profit making and volunteering entities spells out a strong commitment of NGOs in addressing the issue of tackling drug problems through the prevention of drug and substance abuse.

He said that an increase in social and economic factors has made people, especially the young, more vulnerable and likely to engage in drug use and drug-related risk-taking behaviours and expressed his satisfaction on seeing the involvement of youths in the conference, which saw a session on youth empowerment in preventing drug abuse.

"I hope that the resolutions regarding the youths' role will reach out to their hearts and souls as much as it has penetrated those of us who have been involved far earlier," he said, adding that one of the challenges for IFNGO would be to attract youths to be part of the team, rather than merely the target of the team.

He said that getting youths to participate in any drug abuse prevention programmes would give more impact than just getting them involved by listening only. "Whatever has been achieved in this conference must be collectively translated into action in the true spirit of wanting to eradicate the drug menace."

The deputy minister went on to say that skills empowerment programmes have taken centre stage in the fight to establish excellence in all the respective societies. However, he said that given the complexities of drug and substance abuse issues, skills training must be more "refined and meticulous".

He said that relevant agencies and authorities could no longer "charge head-on as if on confrontational mode" when handling drug abusers.

"Punitive actions can have an impact, but they can also be counter-productive," he said.

He added that all involved parties should always review their strategies and evaluate their past and future actions. Dato Hj Eusoff Agaki also called for more ground-level activities and more participation by new key players such as youths, role models who youths look up to and also the private sector and corporations.

The Brunei Times