Commission set up to fight against drug abuse in schools

Commission set up to fight against drug abuse in schools

At the meeting it was concluded that the Republic of Serbia is determined to oppose drug dealers uncompromisingly.

The emphasis in this fight will be put on a particularly vulnerable group which are are school-age children, who are targeted by drug dealers more and more often.

In this direction, proper measures and an organized systematic campaign will be undertaken in the future period, aimed at increasing the awareness of citizens about the harmfulness of drug abuse and its effect on children of school age, as well as on their parents.

As part of the national campaign, three key points were identified: education of students through broadcasting of real, uncensored images, campaigns in the media with national coverage directed at parents, and visits to the institutions that treat addicted patients, such as the Drug Rehab Clinic at Teodora Drajzera street in Belgrade.

Expert teams composed of psychiatrists, psychologists, police officers, prosecutors and experts from other areas will visit primary and secondary schools in the country, as well as other institutions for the youth, and in direct conversation with students will present to them the harmfulness of drugs to their health and to the life of their families and friends by showing them real, uncensored footage showing the consequences of taking drugs.

At the same time, parents’ awareness must also be influenced, i.e. they have to be taught how to recognize changes in their children’s behavior caused by taking drugs and their potentially risky conditions.

The media with national coverage will broadcast educational programs with eminent experts and prominent public figures.

As part of the national campaign, secondary school students will be taken to visit the institutions that take care of people with drug addiction problems.

The idea is to raise awareness of children and strengthen their negative perception of taking drugs through direct, visual experience of severe consequences of drug abuse.

Finally, it was underlined that the state of Serbia will have no mercy for dealers who sell drugs to minors.