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Text type: letter to the Editor Topic: drug abuse among teenagers Student: Joanna LauWanYee (S7A) Dear Editor, I am writing with regard to the increasingly acute problem of drug abuse among teenagers in Hong Kong. That the number of young drug abusers continues to climb in the territory is terribly worrying. Not only are there more teenagers becoming addicted to drugs, but there are also more kinds of drugs being abused and it is now even easier for teenagers to get hold of drugs. Society, including young people themselves, needs to urgently address this challenge and create a better future for young people. First and foremost, with a sizeable amount of resources at its disposal, the government should allocate more of its resources to deal with the issue. Special training should be given to social workers as well as teachers in order to equip them with sufficient knowledge about drugs and drug abuse and to up skill these professionals to enable them to better deal with teenage drug abusers. Through training, social workers and teachers would be aware of the latest developments in the field of drug abuse, such as the drugs currently being used and the trends in cross-border drug dealing. Without such knowledge, social workers and teachers cannot help combat the problem. At the same time, schools, with the aid of social workers, ought to promote the anti-drug message. Talks and seminars should be held to teach youngster about the consequence of drug abuse, such as the damage to their kidneys, heart and brain. Students should also be warned not to become involved in drug-related crimes, for example ҲճդύᏢᙑғύᏢ)3119!.!311:* ĴijIJ मЎࣽ selling drugs, as they will end up with criminal records which will not be able to be erased. Without doubt, the anti-drug message in schools must be clear and strong enough to prevent students from experimenting with drugs. Family members, especially parents, have to show care and concern for their children and be aware of any signs of them using drugs. While it is understandable that Hong Kong parents work long hours, their priority as parents is to care for their children. Parents should bear in mind that teenagers who lack parental care are especially vulnerable to experimenting with drugs, and more importantly, that the early discovery of drug use and hence the early provision of help for those involved can help teenagers kick the habit before they become addicted to drugs. Although these three parties, the government, schools and family members, have obligations to solve the problem of drug abuse, teenagers themselves have a strong responsibility to say ‘no’ to drugs and lead drug-free lives. For a start, they owe it to their health. Drugs have a devastating effect on the physical and mental heath of those addicted. Addiction will not only damage their health but affect the kind of job they can get and the family life they can enjoy in the future. They should definitely not underestimate the addictiveness of drugs and they must not risk their future for the so-called ‘excitement and fun’ of drug use. Moreover, teenagers have a responsibility to their peers. These peers are their friends, and out of concern for the health and the future happiness of their friends, they not only need to distance themselves from drugs, but also help their peers to do the same. Young people Ĵijij ҲճդύᏢᙑғύᏢ)3119!.!311:* should not experiment with drugs with their friends. If they find their friends are involved in using drugs, the best way they can help their friends is to try to convince them to seek help. If that doesn’t work then they are not helping their friends by being quiet about the problem; they should tell a caring and responsible adult so that their friends can get the appropriate help. Despite all that the government, schools and families are currently doing to prevent drug abuse, the number of young drug abusers is still increasing. I believe, the key to solving the drug abuse problem lies with teenagers themselves. It is their responsibility to resist the temptation of drugs. I sincerely hope that teenagers in Hong Kong, as well as those all around the world, take this to heart and create a better, drug free future for themselves and their peers. Yours faithfully Joanna Joanna Lau Tin Shui Wai ҲճդύᏢᙑғύᏢ)3119!.!311:* ĴijĴ