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Care’s message on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking   |25 June 2022

‘Legalisation of cannabis should be approached with much prudence and wisdom’

 

The Committee for Awareness, Resilience and Education against substance abuse (Care) is making a strong appeal to all concerned, to approach the matter of legalisation of cannabis “with much prudence and wisdom”.

This comes in a message from Care on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which falls tomorrow, June 26.

The full text of Care’s message reads:

“As the world commemorates the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the international theme of ‘Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises’, shines a spotlight on the impact of such challenges in health and humanitarian crises globally.

“As a small nation, we have, over the years weathered many storms, there is a kind of storm, which is a threat to human development that we, in Seychelles, together with other countries across the globe, still have to weather. This is the drug pandemic, which kills millions globally every year, lays to waste precious lives, destroying our young generation and brings untold stories of misery and suffering.

“The global and local illicit drug situation, is known to widely endanger public health and safety, peace, security and social well-being. It also seriously compromises the very fabric of society, especially the family, children and youth, through the culture of lawlessness and violence. In Seychelles, like across the globe, sadly, many precious lives are still being robbed by the deadly scourge of drugs.

“Let this day remind us all that our people, especially our younger generation, deserve to live in good health, dignity, peace and prosperity, all of which can easily be threatened by drug use and trafficking. The efforts to crack down on drug trafficking in our country and on those who make a profit out of human misery, is strongly supported and applauded by Care (Committee for Awareness, Resilience and Education against substance abuse). The said efforts must be widely supported, strengthened and sustained.

“Care will always advocate for more national efforts in prevention as a viable and cost effective strategy of the national drug control. Therefore, ensuring the resilience of children against negative influences luring them into risky behaviour, including substance use, must always be a top priority. Character and resilience building of children, for this reason, cannot be a stand-alone initiative but rather, a mainstreamed and sustained engagement.

“Social ills and crime against children, like sexual, physical and emotional aggression, sadly continue to morally scar our nation. Studies show that such poses as serious risk factors to children, putting them at risk of falling prey to substance use. We must therefore, come together to strengthen our families to better protect their children, through more support services in prevention and early intervention.

“Care remains deeply concerned over the persistent push to normalise the drug culture. The same goes for the push to legalise recreational cannabis, with children getting caught up in the belief that the substance is harmless and okay. “Let us learn from other countries that have taken that road and the negative impact experienced, as one of the many lessons learned elsewhere, is that the liberal cannabis use, comes with its own culture, behaviour and life style.

“Other countries have learned that no matter when legalisation of recreational use of cannabis happens, it comes at the expense of the well-being of children, because protecting children from the substance once it is made legal, becomes a huge challenge. There is enough scientific evidence to show the negative impact of cannabis on the developing brain, besides the other consequences. Thus the easy availability and easy access by children once it is legal, should be a big concern for us as a nation.

“On this day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, Care is making a strong appeal to all concerned, to approach the matter of legalisation of cannabis with much prudence and wisdom.”

 

Press release from Care

 

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