Easy Access: Glue, Thinner And Nail Polish Are Being Used By Drug Abusers Because They Are Easily Available. Picture: BT/Rachel Thien

Bandar Seri Begawan - Inhalants are newly preferred drug substance abused by young people in the Sultanate as sniffing kangaroo glue, thinner and nail polish are easily accessible, according to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) acting assistant director Osmawi Osman.

The bureau has recorded some cases of these drug abusers although no specific age demographic was relayed. Osmawi told The Brunei Times that they had caught students doing it behind schools and at homes.

"These young people are abusing inhalants because they are cheap and so easy to obtain. They do not even need any equipment to do it," said Osmawi. He warned the public that inhalants are dangerous and "very addictive" which can cause hallucinations.

Osmawi said that this is the reason why NCB was stepping up efforts and plans to hold "mobile"exhibitions to further educate and raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse in the country.

During the exhibition relevant information on drug abuse and dangers of drug syndicates will be on display. The exhibitions will be held in areas where they can reach out to the people such as The Mall, Ramadhan food stalls, during National Day celebrations and whenever there are other exhibitions being held.

"We are even thinking of placing our mobile exhibitions at Kampung and at weddings. As weddings happen very often in this country, we will be able to catch the attention of guests before they enter the houses," he said.

"We want to go and spread the news with our mobile exhibition at any place where there is crowd," Osmawi added.

The acting assistant director said that it was important to reach out to students in schools as they fall into the category of inhalant abusers. Speaking on the sidelines of of NCB's recent launching of the bureau's new slogan in their campaign "NDA!" which connotes 'No Drugs at All' in English during the observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in June, Osmawi said that he was pleased as the campaign is widely known among Bruneians now.

He spoke of the Ramadhan month, where one stall owner at the Stadium foodstalls promoted NDA at his stall on his own initiative.

"He even made certain items and printed NDA on them. We (NCB) were taken aback and we decided to contact him to provide him with NDA caps and brochures," said Osmawi.

This really shows that people are becoming more aware and are taking our campaigns seriously. Next year, NCB plans to supply all stall owners aprons with the NDA slogan," he added.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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oldie
written by si-kicap , September 28, 2009

menyiruk gam jua ni, inda kah?

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