DRUG ABUSE KILLING OUR YOUTH, SAYS KARANI

THE WIDESPREAD use of drugs by youths in the country makes them an
"endangered species", Police Minister Mathias Karani said yesterday.

He said many ports in PNG are becoming transit points for drug trafficking
and export.

The minister was speaking at the Sir John Guise Stadium to mark this year's
"International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Drug Trafficking" yesterday.

He said drug abuse is a deadly enemy, taking away an individual's respect
for life, respect for society and is wrecking the lives of many people.

Papua New Guinea, Mr Karani said, is in the region where there is illicit
drug trade.

Sadly enough, he said, it is the younger generation who are being targetted
by drug traders.

Mr Karani said a recent survey conducted by the National Narcotics Bureau
found that 90 per cent of youths aged between 13 and 21 years in the
National Capital District are involved in drug abuse on a regular basis.

More than half of these users are children attending primary and high
schools, he said.

Mr Karani said the same survey further noted that about 80 per cent of
those in juvenile institutions are regular drug abusers.

He said he was shocked also to learn that children as young as 10 years
were involved in using or pushing drugs.

"Drugs and crime go hand in hand. Police have experienced many
confrontations with youths under the influence of drugs, especially
marijuana," he said.

"Can you for one minute imagine what it would be like for all our youths to
be drug users and pushers? We need only to observe other countries to be
reminded of the chaos and anarchy such can cause."

"Our youths have become an endangered species in a space of only 25 years.
It shows that we as a government, individuals and parents have failed
miserably," Mr Karani said.

He urged a clean up now for a clean and safe environment for our youths
tomorrow.

The National Narcotics Bureau, which organised the event yesterday, has
chosen music as a tool to send out the message about their fight against
drug abuse and drug trafficking.

It has joined forces with local studio Rising Star to promote its awareness
program through music.