UAE - The low age at which children eperiment with drugs is troubling, said experts on the sidelines of a regional conference on drug use organised by the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) and the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC). According to a report in 'The National' NRC plans to bring drug education to schools for the first time in a bid to halt the rise of drug abuse by youth. But some education officials are apprehensive about bringing up the topic with school children. Anti-drug officials across the UAE say they have noticed the age at which young people using drugs has decreased from 17 or 18 to as young as 12. One official said children as young as 10 are into drugs. "As part of our prevention programme policy we will hold sessions for students aged 12 to 14," said Dr Hesham Elarabi, head of health, education research and studies, NRC. The 12-week course will involve parents and teachers. It will explain causes and types of addiction, consequences, prevention methods, treatment and rehabilitation methods, he said. However, no agreement has been reached with any school yet, because some officials did not want to bring up the issue in front of students, he added. Full Story>>
Drug crisis: 10-year-olds on heroin
http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/drug-crisis-10-year-olds-on-heroin-2011-01-05-1.338140
