POLICE EYE 'OLDER' STUDENTS

Police are targeting fourth and fifth formers in their drug awareness
campaigns to prepare them to deal with negative influences when they
join the workforce.

State Narcotics Department enforcement chief DSP Mohd Anil Shah said
the campaigns would equip students with a certain degree of awareness
on the danger of taking drugs.

"We want them to think twice when faced with temptations,'' he told
newsmen at a Drug Awareness Campaign in SMK Jelutong yesterday.

"This group of students will fall into the 'potential drug user'
category once they start patronising entertainment outlets where they
are vulnerable to negative influences especially the Ecstasy menace,''
he said.

The half-day campaign was jointly organised by the Lions Club of
George Town, Pearl of the Orient Lions Club and the Narcotics Department.

DSP Mohd Anil said increased police enforcement at nightspots had
reduced the number of disco-goers by 30% in the first half of the
year, thus indirectly bringing down the statistics of drug abusers at
such places.

DSP Mohd Anil said the drug situation in Penang was under control
especially with the co-operation from all relevant parties, including
MCA which had embarked on an offensive against the Ecstasy menace.

Lion International district governor 308-B2 Patrick Chew said they
would promote drug awareness campaigns in schools on a monthly basis
to complement the Government's fight against drugs, especially Ecstasy.