Gwangju Seo-gu Conducts Drug Abuse Prevention Education for Youth

Published 19 Feb.2024 15:07(KST)

Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) announced on the 19th that it will conduct drug prevention education targeting youth.

This drug prevention education was promoted to prevent the increasing abuse and addiction caused by the recent surge in prescriptions of medical narcotics among children and adolescents.

Seogu is conducting drug prevention education for adolescents. <br>[Photo by Seogu]

Seogu is conducting drug prevention education for adolescents.
[Photo by Seogu]

To actively respond to issues such as illegal sales of appetite suppressants among youth and the abuse of easily obtainable drugs like 'Fentanyl patches (narcotic analgesics)' prescribed by medical institutions, Seo-gu formed a drug management reinforcement working council last month on the 23rd with seven related organizations including the Addiction Management Integrated Support Center and the Western Police Station.

The council plans to operate multifaceted education programs tailored to the characteristics and ages of the target groups by inviting professional instructors from the Drug Eradication Movement Headquarters Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch and Seo-gu Addiction Management Integrated Support Center, starting from local children's centers on the 19th and extending to out-of-school youth support centers. The education will cover ▲ prevention of drug abuse and misuse ▲ education on side effects of narcotics.

Additionally, the Crime Prevention Diagnosis Team of the Western Police Station will conduct lectures on the seriousness of drug-related crimes through cases and punishments related to drug offenses.

The education will continue until December, and applications must be submitted to the Seo-gu Public Health Center's Pharmaceutical Management Team at least 15 days before the desired education date.

Lee Won-gu, director of the Seo-gu Public Health Center, said, “Medical narcotics are often prescribed by loopholes mainly due to youth curiosity and external interest, and prevention education is essential to ensure there is no abuse.” He added, “We will also carry out continuous guidance and inspections to prevent medical institutions and pharmacies from excessively prescribing medical narcotics for profit.”