How to Avoid Illegal Drugs

Bacolod City (PIA6) – The youth is one of the most vulnerable sectors when it comes to being influenced by the use of illegal drugs, arguably due to their frail sense of responsibility.

The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) recently gave tips to the public, particularly to parents, on how to help the youth avoid using illegal drugs.

Police Superintendent Armando Tubongbanua said parents should encourage their children to go home early and involve themselves in helping with household chores or studying.

After school, children should opt to go straight home to avoid involvement in any crime, since 85% of the crimes are drug-related, he said.

“We should teach our children to do household chores because it is a basic foundation that they can learn from, and later on use when they grow old,” Tubongbanua said.

By doing such training at home, they can practice their skills while also evading the people outside who should not be connected to them, he added.

He said parents should not be complacent with just sending their children to school and giving them allowances, adding that they should help their children when they are studying.

According to Tubongbanua, having knowledge on social problems helps in understanding what teenagers are going through at this stage of their lives.

“Your supervision on your kids must have passion, you should have even just little knowledge about social problems which should be part of your system to ensure that they will not be influenced in using drugs,” he said.

One of the factors why children involve themselves in the use of illegal drugs is because they do not have an outlet, he added.

He said those who are vulnerable are juniors and seniors in high school, and freshmen and sophomores in college.

These students are tempted because of peer pressure or curiosity, especially if they are forced to use drugs with the promise of receiving something in return.

At times, they indulge in using drugs because of the misconception that they can lose weight.

Meanwhile, Tubongbanua said teenagers must refuse drinks that are offered by random people they meet in bars because a particular substance might be poured in these drinks. (JCM/CBA/PIA6-Negros Occidental)