Amidst increasingly concerns that drug use at schools all across Cyprus is on an alarming rise the police anti-narcotics squad and two ministries have agreed on necessary measures to be taken.
Specifically, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Justice got together with leading members of the squad (YKAN) to agree on how to prevent the spread of this frightening trend, Philenews reports.
Latest data shows that over 300 high school students annually are referred by YKAN to programs whose goal is to keep them away from drugs. And if they succeed in going through these programs till the end then they are not sent before court.
One of the decisions taken is that Ministry of Education officer would be involved in the delinquency councils orchestrated by the Ministry of Justice. And the possible involvement of parents’ associations in these councils also came under discussion.
At the same time, efforts will be made to involve teachers more actively in the prevention of drug-related incidents involving students. Y
On a yearly basis, YKAN arrest or investigate over 100 cases of persons aged 15-19 years old involved in drugs – mainly possession and very rarely trafficking.
Participants at the meeting agreed that the drug problem in schools is real, but, with the right actions and more active involvement of teachers it can be controlled.
Schools have specific teachers trained to handle such cases, while lectures are regularly given by members of YKAN.
