Prevent drugs in schools

A media skit calling on young people not to try drugs even once by Hanoi Drug Rehabilitation Center No. 4.

Warning about drugs mixed in food and drinks

The use of drugs causes unpredictable harm to the young generation, family and society. Meanwhile, at the age of “not yet full, not yet worried”, many students are still inexperienced in recognizing the dangers related to drugs that exist around them, leading them to fall into the wrong path.

In the 2022-2023 school year, the police agency warned of many cases of students using drugs. In particular, Nam Tu Liem District Police and Tay Ho District Police discovered and arrested subjects illegally buying and selling drugs in the form of food. Similarly, Thach That District Police arrested a number of subjects distributing and selling electronic cigarettes containing drugs to young people. Meanwhile, Ha Dong District Police received, resolved, and prosecuted a number of cases related to students using electronic cigarettes, in which electronic cigarettes contained addictive substances and drugs.

According to Hanoi City Police, currently, there are many types of synthetic drugs with new designs, forms, addictive substances, and psychotropic substances appearing on the market. Alarmingly, drugs are mixed and packaged in the form of food and drinks, to facilitate transactions, buying, selling, and transportation, and can also meet the needs of "customers" to bring them home to hide, making it difficult for relatives to detect.

In terms of methods, the subjects often grind drugs (ecstasy), then mix them with coffee powder or soft drinks, soda, then pack them into bags or bottles of finished products, and sell them to customers. In addition, the subjects also process marijuana into cakes with other ingredients such as butter, flour, sugar, etc., and then advertise them for sale on social networks.

On the eve of the 2023-2024 school year, through investigation, the police force continued to discover a number of new types of drugs "disguised" as drinks and functional foods, whose users are mainly students. These are "happy water", "happy water", "mango water" containing yellow liquid; synthetic drugs in the form of WY tablets, synthetic drugs in the form of "rocks"...

All of the above are synthetic drugs. However, many young people initially think that using new drugs will not cause addiction. This is a very wrong view. In fact, new generation drugs can cause addiction very quickly, and at the same time, they destroy the central nervous system, causing users to lose control of their behavior and often have paranoia. Many heartbreaking cases have occurred, in which the perpetrators were in a state of hallucinations and paranoia due to using these drugs.

Create a protective “fence”

The "fence" to protect students from the dangers of drugs requires the participation of authorities, families, schools and each student himself. In particular, helping young people clearly understand the harmful effects of drugs and proactive skills to prevent and avoid risks and temptations plays a particularly important role. Understanding this, before the 2023 summer vacation, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training requested schools to focus on organizing communication to raise awareness among students about the harmful effects of synthetic drugs "disguised" in the form of food, drinks, and electronic cigarettes. Schools also coordinate with local police agencies and Youth Unions to organize students to sign a "3 no's to drugs" commitment (no trying, no keeping, no using drugs), and at the same time educate students on the skills of "saying no to drugs" through many useful and interesting activities during the summer.

Along with that, drug rehabilitation facilities under the Hanoi Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs coordinated with local authorities and educational institutions to directly disseminate information about the harmful effects and ways to prevent and combat tobacco, e-cigarettes and drugs. After participating in communication activities, Le Van Thanh (born in 2007), residing in Tan Dan commune (Soc Son district) said: "To prevent, we should not gather or hang out with bad friends; do not use foods and drinks of unknown origin and if we see suspicious signs".

On the family side, to protect children and grandchildren from the dangers of drugs, parents need to proactively learn about drug-related issues; at the same time, spend time caring for and accompanying their children on the path to adulthood. Ms. Tran Minh Anh, residing in Van Dien town (Thanh Tri district) said: “Since my children entered junior high school, I have considered them as friends. I spend a lot of time talking to my children, thereby promptly detecting and helping them deal with the complex problems they encounter. Sometimes, it is just small conflicts with friends, in the eyes of adults, it will be “childish matters”, “nothing to worry about”, but at school age, it can be a big deal, which children do not know how to solve, leading to stress, loneliness, boredom, and then unfortunately falling into the wrong path…”.

In addition to propaganda work to raise awareness, the police agency presides over and, together with relevant parties, implements synchronous professional measures to detect and resolutely combat drug crimes; focuses on dismantling drug rings and gangs, and resolving complicated drug-related issues. Patrol and control activities in areas and areas surrounding schools are also closely coordinated by all parties, aiming to create a safe and healthy environment for students to study with peace of mind.

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