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A key policy objective agreed to by Cabinet in the formulation of the Substances
Abuse Advisory Council Act of 1998 and the establishment of the Council in 1999
was “the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and safer drinking practices, and the
development and promotion of actions and advice which will reduce
alcohol-related and substance abuse problem for the nation”.
This policy objective is increasingly becoming very real and important today in view of the
recent revelation by the Ministry of Health that in Fiji 80% of the illness, disability
and deaths are attributed to Non Communicable Diseases. NCDs have been found to be the leading cause
of premature death in Fiji
and the issue needs to be addressed to ensure that people do not die
prematurely.
Two out of the four key contributing
factors to non-communicable diseases identified by the Ministry of Health is
the abuse of alcohol and tobacco.
It can no longer be denied that Drugs and Substance Abuse which include marijuana,
alcohol and tobacco is a real and emerging issue in our schools in recent times
and all stakeholders need to seriously address this issue firstly because of
the devastating effects of drugs and other substances in the economic, social
and cultural life of our society but more so on the physical and mental well
being of our children, our hope for the future and how it can affect their
academic performance in schools.
Whilst
there has not been any proper research conducted in Fiji on the relationship
between drugs and substance use and academic performance, however there have
been anecdotal evidence or reports on observations made by teachers from
schools in a number of Education Districts linking children of parents who had
previously smoked the drug marijuana to poor concentration in class, poor
memory and lack of interest in school work.
In fact
today, you and I need to recognize and accept that any child, yours or mine is
at risk when it comes to drugs, alcohol and other substances.
The use of
drugs, alcohol, and other substances will not be conducive to creating an optimal
state in which a student is best able to learn and implement the knowledge that
he has been taught.
This is why
the Ministry of Education in its Strategic Plan for 2012-2014 has as Outcome 3 “The welfare of students are promoted and
protected through school improvement programmes that build character and bring
about social cohesion in an environment that is safe and secure” in as far
as drug and substances is concerned; the National Substance Abuse Advisory
Council is doing its best through Drug Awareness Workshops, Peer Education
Training, Training of Trainers for Teachers, presentations, school broadcasts,
distribution of pamphlets/brochures, Radio and TV Advertisement to increase
awareness on the harmful effects of drugs to students and the general public.
This is a
mammoth task that cannot be handled by Government alone, thus, the support of
the community, Faith Based Organisations and NGOs in drug abuse prevention is
very much needed.
The most
effective weapon in the war on Drugs is Education and it is therefore crucial
that Government, NGOs and civil society work hand in hand in this important
area.
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VISION |
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MISSION |
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To promote a drug-free environment in our schools and other settings by establishing positive education approaches, effective substance control programs and appropriate institutional frameworks. |
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The specific roles of the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council are as follows: |
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(i) Regulatory Functions
To:
make recommendations to the Minister or any other person as the Council thinks fit
with respect to the advertising of liquor, whether generally or through any
particular media, and the need to regulate or in any way restrict any such
advertising;
make regulations to carry into effect the
provisions of the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Act 1998.
(ii) Policy Functions
To:
make recommendations to the Government,
Ministries, departments, authorities in the fields of health, education, social
welfare, and industry, and any other public or private body, association, or
person; regarding any matters referring to research dissemination of
information and conduct of education programmes relating to liquor and other
substances mentioned in paragraph 8(1)(a)-(c) and 8(2) (a)-(c) of the Substance
Abuse Advisory Council Act
consider and report to the Attorney-General
upon any matter relating to the law governing the sale and consumption of
liquor and substances or any proposed change thereto, or to the use or misuse
of liquor and to the penalties relating to the use or abuse of the illegal
substances, as may be referred to the Council by the Attorney-General
(iii) Service Delivery Functions
To:
encourage,promote, sponsor and cooperate research into:
i.
the use
and abuse of liquor and substances in Fiji
ii.
public
attitudes in Fiji towards
the use of liquor and substances in Fiji
iii.
problems
associated with or consequent upon the misuse of liquor and abuse of substances
in Fiji
iv.
means of
minimizing the harmful effects of liquor and substance abuse
encourage,
promote, sponsor and cooperate in the dissemination to the public or to any
class of persons, of information
relating to any problem that is or may be associated with or consequent upon
the abuse of drugs and substances
device, promote, sponsor, conduct and to
encourage and cooperate in the preparation and conduct of educational
programmes for the public or for any class of persons (including persons
attending schools or other educational institutions, and persons who may, for
any reason, be at special risk in respect of drugs and substance abuse
problems) designed to discourage the abuse of liquor and substances
encourage and promote the treatment, care
and rehabilitation of person’s adversely affected by the abuse of liquor and substances whether by
themselves or others
encourage, promote, sponsor and
co-operate in the preparation, publication, and dissemination to
interested bodies, associations and persons of research papers, thesis and
other reports relating to any matter with which the Council is concerned;
obtain, monitor, analyse, collate, and
disseminate to the interested bodies, associations or persons in Fiji
information from overseas relating to any matter with which the Council is
concerned;
encourage, promote, sponsor, and
co-operate in the preparation and publication of a bibliography of
literature relating to any matter with which the Council is concerned
make grants from its Substance Abuse
Account to a body or association approved by the Council, to engage in any
activity in any field with which the Council is concerned;
charge reasonable fees for any material
published by it or made available by it to the public.
(iv) Monitoring/Compliance
Functions
The Council may require a Government Ministry,
department, statutory body, commercial organisation or other non-governmental
organisation to supply statistics and data necessary to enable it to prepare a
report and recommend action.
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MINISTRY OF EDUCATION’S CONTRIBUTION TO ADDRESSING DRUGS
AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
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PRIORITY 1: EDUCATION
AND TRAINING
Training of
Trainers for Teachers (TOT) on Drugs Substance Abuse and HIV AIDS, Child Abuse,
Violence Against Girls and Women
Training of
Peer Educators on Drugs Substance Abuse, HIV AIDS, Adolescent Reproductive
Health Issues
Training of
Community Leaders, Community Drug Action Group (CDAG) and School Committees
Quick Response
Presentations to schools, youth groups, women groups, faith based organisations
etc
Family Life
Education
Health
Promoting School
Priority 2: POLICY
AND LEGISLATIONS
Drugs and Substance
Abuse Policy in Schools
Declaration of
Drug Free School by The Honourable Minister for Education in 2010
Volatile
Substance Abuse Decree 2011 (Draft)
Substance Abuse
Education Grants Regulations 2012
Substance Abuse
Education Grants Policy 2012
Amendment of
the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Act
PRIORITY 3: ANALYSIS,
RESEARCH AND IMPACT EVALUATION
Analysis of
Reported Cases from Schools in Confidential (Red Files)
SIMS Data Analysis
2004 Research on Drugs and Substance Abuse in Secondary Schools
2005 Research on Drugs and Substance Abuse in Primary Schools
Repeat Survey in Secondary School 2010
Repeat Survey in Primary Schools 2011
Impact Evaluation on Pride Sub Projects Drug and Substance Awareness Workshops to Head
Teachers and Principals and Drug Awareness Workshops to Community Leaders.– by
Pride, FJ001, FJ005
Impact Evaluation of Training of Trainers (TOT) 2009-2011
Proposal for a National Research 2011-2012
Annual Evaluation of IDADAIT
Network with Pacific Drug Alcohol Research Network (PDARN)
PRIORITY 4: PRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION OF
EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION ON DRUGS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Schools Broadcast Programme
Domonivuli Programme
IDADAIT Programme 26th June Annually-in School Awareness Programme
nationwide 735 Primary, 176 Secondary Schools
Radio Talk Back Shows – Domo i Viti na Voqa ni Veiyanuyanu, Vakaribamalamala
Interviews TV – Viti ni Kua, FBC TV and when our Drug Awareness Workshops are held.
Production of TV Advertisements
Production of Posters, Pamphlets, Charts, Brochures etc.
NSAAC Newsletter
Articles, interviews in Fiji Times,Fiji Sun, Nai Lalakai, Kaila Magazine
PRIORITY 5: PROVISION
OF GRANTS
Provide small
grants from its Substance Abuse Account to a body or association approved by
the Council to engage in any activity in any field with which the Council is
concerned to be piloted in 2012 in 2 organisations before implementation in
2013.
PRIORITY 6: PROVISION
OF COUNSELLING SERVICES
Establishment
of 29 Counsellor Positions in schools since 1996
Establishment
of Counsellor Positions in District Education Offices
Training of
Teachers in Basic Counselling.
PRIORITY 7: STAKEHOLDERS
PARTICIPATION
Strengthening
of our network with the Police Drug Unit, St. Giles and Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Youth and other key Government Ministries and Departments.
Strengthening of our network with Faith Based
Organisations, Provincial Councils, Private Sector Organisations and
international donor funding agencies.
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CONTACT INFORMATION |
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ADDRESS: Old Delainamasi Government School Building, Valelevu, Nasinu
PHONE: 339-4144/339-4180/773-4180
Fax : 339-7520
Email: nsaaccouncil@gmail.com |
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