Focus groups join Care in anti-drug campaign |18 July 2008

The aim of the programme is to awaken people to the seriousness of the situation and tell them what each sector can do to help.

Praslin and La Digue will also be taking part in this campaign, using the same programme and the same talks.

The sessions organised by Care – the Campaign for Awareness, Resilience and Education against substance abuse – will bring together various focus groups, including parents and faith-based youth groups from all religions.

“Parents are the prime agents in prevention, as it starts in the family with them. With the faith-based group leaders we will be focusing on the spiritual approach to drug prevention,” said Noella Gonthier, head of Care.

During the talks parents who have faced similar situations within their families will be given the chance to share their testimonies.

The professionals taking part are community and mental health nurses and coordinators, sports groups, social workers, probation officers and senior police officers.

Young police officers from the police academy will also be attending as it is important for them to see their role in prevention, not only in law enforcement.

Mrs Gonthier said these professionals have been chosen as they are in a strategic position to bring about early intervention in the community.

She said Care is getting support from different non-governmental organisations and ministries during the campaign.

“We want to link up and collaborate with all the organisations concerned because Care will not be able to do everything. We want to join forces and take action together,” she said.

The theme for the first session held earlier this week was community health and substance abuse management, in which mental health nurses and coordinators were presented with information on the signs and causes, consequences and prevention of substance abuse.

Shared talks on disturbing situations dealt with by the various health centres were also part of the session.

Care’s next approach is to go out into the community to talk to people who are already using drugs.

“We want to tell them that there is a way out and we want to guide them towards this way out,” said Mrs Gonthier.