The National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit annual ‘Sports Not Drugs Summer Program’ will be held in Vielle Case, Laplaine, Dublanc and Bellvue Chopin from 25-29 July, 2011.
Each of the Summer Day program will target 25 students age 8-12 years. The main theme is “Think health Not Drugs” with a sub theme “My body no place for Drugs.”
Sessions will include Health and Drug Education, Art and Craft, Sports and a Field trip to a place of interest. School principals, Village Council Clerks and youth leaders are assisting with the mobilization.
Other resource persons will assist the Drug Abuse Prevention Officers in conducting the sessions. Students will compete in a poster competition as part of the Summer program.
The program will conclude with a Sport Day at the Dublanc play field on Tuesday August 2, 2011.
Some people will participate in the programme, however, there are many double standards that needs to be addressed effectively in order for people to take these programs seriously. Some of the following are:
1. Why is a young man fined $400 for 1 joint whereas cigarettes and alcohol have accounted for millions of deaths across the world yet our governments and multi-millionaire cooperations continues to support these dangerous drugs?
2. Marijuana can be used to make military gears, soaps, rope, clothing and many other uses. Why can’t we use marijuana to manufacture those goods for exports to increase our revenue, increase our spending power and decrease unemployment? Why do we have a tobacco factory in Roseau which emit poisonous fumes and has a bad odor? Why do we manufacture rum which causes overall moral decay in a society ranging from vehicular accidents to cirrhosis of the liver?
3. Marijuana is known to address eye disease like glaucoma. Also, since smoking marijuana can increase one’s appetite, why not invest in scientific research in order to engineer environmental friendly projects to extract the main ingredient/s to treat eating disorders? How many people have died from prolonged marijuana use in comparison to cigarettes and alcohol? Can Marijuana be used to treat bronchitis or asthma? If so, shouldn’t further research continue in order to treat these illnesses among our people; instead of increasing our import bill by importing millions of dollars in pharmaceutical drugs which generally has negative side effects?
More people who share my sentiments are always free to add more to my questions. I do not support the abuse of any herb or to idly use it by the wayside, but as a plant we as a people should be more open minded. When I traveled to Trinidad some years ago, I saw MARIJUANA INCENSE, A MUSLIM SISTER SOLD IT IN BARATARIA FOR YEARS NOW. WHY ARE WE SO DAMN SHALLOW IN DOMINICA?