THE USE AND ABUSE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AMONG YOUTH

By Collin Yak

Lawyer, Constitutional and Law Reform Commission

This course will help me in identifying various problems and issues that arose in our societies and in the country at large. Coming from a legal background and working in the law and justice sector, this course will help me enhance my skills in problems and issues identifications. 

In my view after completing this course, I will be able to identify the problems or the issues, identify the steps to solve the problems or the issues and identify the best solutions or adopt the best way of solving these issues or the problems. When taking actions, the best action would be adapting to the best practice of solving the problems to make sure that whether the solution adopted will bring solution to the generations after me? Is the method applied sustainable?

These are some of the things that will help me or this course will help me develop my skills as a young lawyer so that I can meaningfully contribute to the development of this nation. We have chosen a topic where most of our Youths are involved in it. The topic is drug and substance abuse. 

Youths are the pillars of this beautiful nation, they are indeed the strength of each society and are in position to direct peace and harmony of each family unit, the society and the country as a whole. In the last decade, most youths and school aged children have been involved in drug and substance abuse due to various reasons. 

Law and order problems are on the rise due to socio-economic factors and are further aggravated by substance abuse. The primary issue of the government of the day and the other relevant State agencies is that there is a need for a much-needed reform to the legal framework on substance abuse.

Reforming the legal framework can help shift the focus from punishment to treatment. This can include providing access to addiction treatment programs, harm reduction services, and other support services. It can also involve decriminalizing drug use and possession, which can help reduce the stigma associated with addiction and encourage people to seek help. 

In 2020, the institution I am currently working for – the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission constituted a working committee comprised of various State agencies with the Department of Justice and Attorney General, the Narcotics Bureau and the National Department of Health to name a few.

The report titled Review of the Laws on Use and Abuse of the Alcohol and Drugs provided 15 recommendations to which if passed will greatly assist in a collective interagency approach in resolving this issue. 

The first step in resolving this issue is to bring these much needed reforms in law before doing anything else. By taking this course, it will greatly assist in understanding and lobbying for these recommendations to be achieved.

Learn more about the PDIA 2 Cohort here.