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The
REAP Report - Children Highlight Drug Abuse
We
have all heard of drug abuse. Unfortunately, most people think
it is not a problem here in the Cook Islands. But that's not
what Cook Islands young people think. Form 2 students from Avarua
School have recently written an outstanding article on this
subject for the UNESCO Small Islands Voice Youth Internet Forum.
They are asking for help from their parents, Police, health
and the community in general. The problem is real, especially
here on Rarotonga. Read and find out what your children are
saying. It's their future at stake. And it's our responsibility
to do something now before it's too late.
DRUG
ABUSE - MARIJUANA
So
much has changed in our small island and one of that is the
amount of illegal drugs being smuggled into our country. In
the Cook Islands the use of marijuana is now an issue of concern
for our young children under the age of 16 years. It may seem
to be a small problem today, but it might get worse in five
years if nothing is done now.
We
learnt from various articles printed by the Cook Islands News
(local paper) that there were many marijuana-related cases in
the past five years particularly on Rarotonga. Police caught
people for planting, possessing the drug and possessing the
equipment used for smoking marijuana. The people involved in
these cases are from all ages - from young to old. We even have
young friends boasting about smoking marijuana or knowing someone
who has smoked it. Now this is very sad because we know that
they are way too young to be smoking that stuff.
We
found out from Encarta Encyclopedia 2003 plus that smoking marijuana
will affect your lungs the same way that tobacco does. Smoking
marijuana would affect one's thinking and learning ability too.
If this is true, then it is very important for us to do something
about it now - today.
PROBLEMS
THAT MAY ARISE
We
think that these would be some of the problems that may arise;
- more young
people will smoke marijuana and may influence or pressure their
friends to smoke it too
-
young people will go out of their way to have access to marijuana,
they may steal, plant their own, hurt others
- young
people will not continue with their schoolwork or education
- young
people who smoke marijuana would not be able to do well at school
- break
up family relationships
-
young people who smoke marijuana may look for other drugs
if they do not get marijuana
HOW
TO PREVENT THESE PROBLEMS FROM HAPPENING?
These
are some of the things that we think can help prevent the above
problems from happening:
CONCLUSION
After
assessing and researching about marijuana and its harmful effect's
on Cook Islanders, our group says that more and more awareness
programs must be introduced in this country. This can be done
by forms of printed materials, easy to understand, television
and radio programs both by police and even health officials
to educate people about this harmful drug and its dangers.
Education
programs can be set up in each village, schools and churches
around the country.
If
this problem is not addressed, sooner or later the future of
the Cook Islands and its youth will be ruined.
Kia
orana e kia manuia.
By:
B Johnson, M. Rubena, H. Ngairinga, M.Tawake,
Form
2, Avarua Primary School, Cook Islands
If
you are on the internet and would like to read what other Cook
Islands students and students from other countries think then
connect to www.sivyouth.org
(username: view and password: only).
Cook
Islands News 9th June 2003
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