A child is kneeling with his hands behind his head. A police officer searches his bag while his classmates stand with their hands behind their heads, each awaiting their turn. What's going on?
We are at the Pares Secondary School. It's the last week of April and the police have been called in to search students suspected of concealing illicit drugs. Ultimately, the search turned up marijuana, marijuana infused products, and ecstasy tablets. This is according to police.
But there was a massive online reaction to the incident, with many mainly upset at seeing young teens treated more like suspected criminals. Yet others argue that it's better the police be called in, than for the situation to get otherwise out of hand.
In this episode, we speak to a principal, an addiction specialist, and a coach and youth mentor about drug use among young people of school going age. We asked how schools, parents, the public health system, and society at large should respond to the problem of juvenile drug use.
They speak frankly about the dangers of marijuana and other drugs, and about the limitations that every institution - the school, the family, the church, and the government - faces in trying to arrest the trend.
The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:
This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on May 2nd, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.
