It is not an accident that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) chose “Drugs are not games for children” as the theme for International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26 this year. Children are the first people who need to be protected in the face of drug problems and crimes that are becoming more and more complicated.

General drugs attack children:

General ATS (Amphetatmine-type stimulants) drugs now being circulated have shapes similar to new medicine tablets. As a result, they are easier to use and conceal than opium and heroin.

These substances strongly excite the nervous system and cause delusions in users. It takes a shorter time for a person to become dependent on general drugs than other “traditional drug substance” and levels of dependence are also more severe. Therefore, the ability to restore dependence will be more difficult. Moreover, this is a quite new kind of drug, awareness of its harmful effects of people, especially children is not really broad. A lot of young people are mistaken about several of its properties, and say that they help to reduce feelings of tiredness, sleepiness and create self-confidence in communication. In fact, many youth and teenagers come across these drugs in dance halls, bars and night-clubs. Other pupils and students who are in stressful situations during exams or get bad marks, are misunderstood by friends and scolded by parents also fall prey to these drugs.

The message of the UNODC issued on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking this year also stresses on two groups of children liable to fall victim to drug abuse: stressed children and children who have parents addicted to drugs or trafficking drugs. These children usually do not take part in any social organisations. They lack information about harmful effects of drug and are not equipped with necessary skills and knowledge to protect themselves from drugs. The appearance of various kinds of drugs is one of the reasons for the increased number of children addicted to drugs.

Attention of the whole society on children

Clearly aware of drugs’ harmful effects on children, especially young generations, in the past, ministries and departments, based on assigned tasks in the government’s action programme against drugs, have worked out specific and practical measures to help children, pupils and students suffering from drug problems. These measures include a drug prevention project in schools organised by the Ministry of Education and Training in collaboration with relevant ministries and departments. Plans 01, 02, 03 between the Ministry of Education and Training and Ministry of Public Security on preventing pupils, students from violating laws and engaging in social problems.

The role of families and schools is very important in drug prevention for children, pupils and students. However, the role is not being adequately filled. In fact, a lot of families, including officials' families, also lack knowledge about drug prevention. In these families, parents are worried about their children becoming addicted to drugs but they are too busy, spend too little time talking with their children. Due to having little understanding about bad effects of drugs, lacking knowledge about identifying their children’s unusual behaviours and lifestyles, they lack the ability to prevent their children from taking drugs.

Drug addiction is a period that starts by actions such as neglecting their workings and studies, losing their sense of direction in life, and leads to unhealthy lives. Thus, it is very necessary to raise parents’ understanding of drugs.

Additionally, coordination between families, schools and local authorities is inadequate. Some schools have concealed that they have drug-addicted pupils, which has made the situation more complicated. Drug prevention and control work needs close coordination between families, schools and local authorities. Behaviours, lifestyles and feelings of children must be paid more attention to. Furthermore, organisations, youth unions, pioneer unions, women’s associations and veteran’s associations must take part in supervising them, helping them keep away from drugs and escape the trap if they unfortunately fall in it.