NCDA calls for state intervention to discourage ganja use by youths

The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) is advocating for State resources to be channelled into interventions that discourage the use of ganja, particularly by the society’s youth.

This, according to Executive Director, Michael Tucker, is imperative against the background of what he describes as an emerging worrying development, consequent on decriminalisation of possession of two ounces of the plant.

Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank Tucker stated that a “gradual shift” was taking place in the risk perception among youth based on decriminalisation of ganja.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests a misunderstanding of the meaning of decriminalisation, interpreting it as a free-for-all across the board,” he said.

Tucker said consequent on this development, it is important to delay the onset of ganja use for as long as possible, to preserve proper brain development without interference in young people.

This, he argued, would counteract the academic underachievement and engagement in high-risk behaviour that are associated with early use of ganja.

The NCDA executive director pointed out that national drug-prevention efforts have been ongoing but require significant scaling-up to incorporate best practices such as sustained interventions across developmental stages (early childhood to adolescence) that incorporate both families and communities.

He said that it was also important to engage the teachers, as they are a critical group who spend significant time with children and adolescents.

He referenced a 2016 National Household Survey study by the NCDA, which indicated that 10 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds perceived that there was little or no risk associated with frequent use of ganja, adding that up to 40 per cent reported that there is low or no risk associated with infrequent use of other substances.

This, Tucker said, is a mindset that could fuel the early initiation of substance use if youth feel that they will not be frequent users of substances.

Tucker also advised that young people have easy access to ganja, with 70 per cent of the population (12 to 65 age group) reporting that they had easy access, while 50 per cent of secondary-school-age children reported that illegal drugs were sold in and around their school compounds.

He said efforts to restrict access, particularly among youth, are crucial.

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