-aimed at combating drug use among teens
-by Kimberly Giddings
The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit is stepping up its fight against drug abuse with a new digital push aimed at educating the public. The agency is set to launch an online platform, “The Truth About Drugs”, giving citizens direct access to critical information on the dangers and effects of narcotics.
CANU, through its Guyana Drug Information Network unit, will be launching its online drug sensitisation platform by May 1. In an exclusive interview with NCN News, Kurt Richards, the head of the unit, explained that the platform is designed to support not only students, but also teachers and parents.
Users will be able to access books such as “The Truth About Cannabis”, “The Truth About Tobacco” and educational materials on the dangers of vaping, drug trafficking and substance abuse.
“The platform will also feature real-life scenarios. It shows you all the different types of drugs and ways in which the teens might attempt to conceal these drugs from you. So as a parent, now, you have the tools to know what these drugs look like and you’ll know if your child is trying to deceive you,” he explained.
According to Richards, the initiative will be a valuable guide for educators and parents as they try to combat negative influences on young, impressionable minds.
“We are working hard. We know that we may not achieve 100 per cent, but let’s try to see how many young people we could have forgetting about drug use, not thinking about that at all, knowing that you could enjoy life without getting high,” he said.
He added that the launch of the platform is just one of several initiatives by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit. Already, the unit is actively engaged in other anti-drug efforts with many more to come.