Drug prevention campaign focuses on parenting
The curfew is designed to protect children from harm on the streets, but how do we protect kids from the very things they see so many adults abusing like drugs and alcohol? While the National Drug Abuse Control Council is the first to admit that there are no easy solutions, they say as a parent you can help your child make the right decisions, if you start listening right now.
Parents, do you know where your children are and what they are doing? You may have answered yes to the first question but many parents and guardians are left in the dark about what kind of activities their sons and daughters are involved in. While we hope our children have been engaged in some kind of positive activity, a survey conducted in 1998 by the National Drug Abuse Control Council reveals otherwise. The study was done in Belize City and Dangriga and it was found that fifty four percent of all students — even those in primary school used alcohol, eleven percent use tobacco, eight percent used marijuana and one percent used crack cocaine.
Kim Avila, Research Officer, NDACC
“There were fifteen hundred and sixty six students surveyed and of those we found that over a quarter of the students admitted that they started using drugs from less than ten years old.”
Q: “What are the reasons why the students are doing drugs?”
Kim Avila
“Well we believe that it’s basically because they are being bombarded with it on the television.”
Students interviewed also stated that because there is a lack of recreational facilities in Belize students are easily influenced by negative activities that at first appear exciting and adventurous. Others believe the problem stems from larger issues such as families struggling to make ends meet. Youths see that dealing drugs is an easy way to make quick money and are attracted to that way of life. However, NDACC believes that no matter how difficult the situation may be at home once a parent spends quality time with his or her children they will become less vulnerable to the social ills around them. To show parents how they can have a positive influence on the lives of their children, the organization has launched a one-month campaign focusing on responsible parenting and positive alternatives to drugs.
Francis Baizar, Director, NDACC
“We have dubbed it, “Your Time, Your Future” and what we are saying to parents is that they should spend quality time with their children and also to get them involve in various activities. To join groups that helps to bring out the best in children for example girl guides, boy scouts and recreational activities such as sports and swimming and the rest of it. It is not the first time that parents are being encouraged to spend quality time with their children.”
Q: “Why do you believe that this campaign will have some kind of impact?”
Francis Baizar
“We believe that this campaign should have some kind of positive impact on parents because it is the children who will become the future and they will move this country forward.”
The campaign consists of radio skits and TV ads produced by the Young Artists’ Association leading up to Drug Awareness Week May thirtieth to June fourth.
Detailed survey results are available at NDACC’s office in Belize City on Freetown Road or in the districts. NDACC is also asking members of the public to wear yellow ribbons during Drug Awareness Week as a symbol for a healthy, drug free lifestyle. It is also a sign of condolence for those families affected by drug abuse.
