COURSE ON HOW TO IDENTIFY ECSTASY PILL USERS

JOHOR BARU: Johor MCA has formed a committee to look into training
disciplinary teachers and counsellors on ways to detect Ecstasy pill takers
among secondary school students.

The teachers selected from high-risk schools would attend a one-day course
on the effects of the pill and how to detect students taking the pills
through their behaviour.

State MCA liaison committee vice-president Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, who is
heading the committee to fight Ecstasy pill abuse among students, said
teachers were among the first to know if their students were taking the
pills.

He said early intervention by giving counselling and informing the parents
would stop students being dependent on the pill.

He said the symptoms of Ecstasy pills included feeling dehydrated, having
disrupted concentration and delayed response.

"There is a need to expand our prevention campaign in schools, judging from
the feed back from police where students were among those detained for
taking Ecstasy.

"Teachers should learn more about the side effects caused by the pill and
disseminate the information among students to create a higher level of
awareness,'' said Dr Chua.

Dr Chua said the committee would work closely with Parents-Teachers
Associations and the education department to incorporate the awareness
campaign into schools' activities.

"We plan to bring living examples into the classrooms to highlight the
tragic consequences of Ecstasy abuse,'' he added.

He said for a start, the awareness campaign in schools would kick off in
Johor Baru and Batu Pahat.