Excelsior fights drug use
It may not be classified as a disease, but the epidemic of drug use and addiction remains at or near the top of Belize’s–and the world’s–gravest social problems. This morning News 5’s Jose Sanchez went to see what one Belize City high school is doing about it.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
The drug trade was once believed to flourish only on dark street corners, but during the past few years the problem has surfaced in the classroom. A battle to rid the country’s schools of narcotics started today and its first stop is Excelsior High School. The National Drug Abuse Control Council plans to make students high only on knowledge.
Marlon McNab, District Coordinator, NDACC
“Its main objective is to highlight the dangers of drugs and its consequences. During this time we look to providing them with what are the alternatives to drug use. How can you have fun without the use of drugs. What are some of the things you can use to occupy your time, which you can exert positive energies into that would not entail any drug use. We look at identifying those students who have a problem with drugs and we provide some kind of intervention for them whether it is counselling or some kind of treatment services for them.”
Orlando Santos, Student, Excelsior
“Students shouldn’t do stuff like that. Especially young students like sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, because it affects your work, it affects your family, your social work, everything that you do on a day to day basis.”
Yolanda Martinez, Counsellor, Excelsior High School
“Students all over Belize I believe are affected directly or indirectly when it comes to the destructive use of drugs. Some of our students are affected directly and some are affected indirectly. Through the guidance department, along with the faculty and staff, we decided that awareness is a good way. The focus of the guidance department at EHS is to create awareness. And we believe by creating awareness we are equipping our students and empowering them to make better decisions when it comes to using and abusing drugs.”
One of today’s activities was a student march to show residents on the city’s southside that they too play an important role in keeping drugs out of the classrooms and off the streets.
Marlon McNab
“We have had a number of incidence that have been reported to the drug council. Drug related incidence where we’ve had students come to school with drugs. And we’ve had students who have admitted having drug-related issues through the council which is a very positive step. So we thought it was appropriate to begin with Excelsior High School in particular.”
Njinshi Mantock, Student, Excelsior
“I know other schools would personally feel ashamed that NDACC would have chosen their school first, but I feel proud because I know that yes Excelsior needs it a lot, needs a lot of help. We are suffering in the sense that we have some students who are having emotional problems and they turn to marijuana to relieve their stress. I think that this programme will help a lot this week because, we need it. I won’t lie our school needs it and it is very helpful.”
Reporting for News 5, Jose Sanchez.
Drug Awareness activities at Excelsior will continue throughout the week.
