Download Dear Editor, I am writing with regard to the increasingly acute

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
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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
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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
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