TEACHERS APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT OVER DRUG ABUSE

Kampala

THE Uganda Christian Teachers Association (UCTA) has appealed to the
Government to take serious action against drug abuse in schools.

UCTA co-ordinator Charles Kamwesigye said this at a dialogue on drug
abuse in schools recently at Hotel Equatoria.

Kamwesigye said drug addiction was affecting students' performance in
class and was a major cause for school dropouts.

Family Life Network chairman Stephen Langa said the Government should
improve law enforcement on access to drugs by teenagers.

Langa said drug abuse was also a factor in the high crime rate in the
country.

A Butabika hospital psychiatrist, David Busangwa, said 20% of patients
admitted to the hospital were a result of drug abuse.

Busangwa said, "Most of these patients are school going children who
have failed to cope with classroom challenges."

He said some of the addictive drugs were bangi, marijuana, cocaine and
glue fume.