Drug abuse threatens new generations in Tunisia

A national survey on drug abuse and risky behavior among students in Tunisian schools has caused a wakeup call, showing a threating number of young drug-users, with one out of ten students, whose age does not exceed 13 years old, taking drugs. 

In a press conference held in Tunis on Friday, Fethi Sellaouti, Tunisian Minister of Education, announced that more than 9% of students in primary and secondary schools use drugs, a challenge that the ministry needs to encounter and overcome. He described the students as victims of drug dealers, reported Al-Ain News.  

The survey, which included 6,230 students, showed that 12% of the participants think that buying soporifics and tranquillizers without a doctor prescription is very easy. 

It also indicated that the rate of heroin injection was estimated at 0.4% among students, in addition to the use of other narcotic substances, including cocaine and ecstasy pills.

About 40% of the participants who were under the age of 13 years said that they smoke tobacco, while 23% of the same group said that they smoke hookah, and 15% use electronic cigarettes.

The survey mentioned that drugs are sold to students inside and outside schools, reported Afrigate News.  

In 2021, a study conducted by the Tunisian Association of Addiction Medicine shockingly showed that half of Tunisian students have tried smoking and taking drugs, while more than 400,000 of them are drug and alcohol addicts.

It is worth mentioning that the total number of students in Tunisia enrolled in the current academic year is 2.314 million. 

Some attributed the terrifying phenomenon to the unstable political crisis that Tunisia has been witnessing since the revolution. The identity of the new generations is lost amid an absence of an influential political and social environment. 

Substance abuse by the new young generation may result in a distorted society, disappointing any hope for a better future for the country. 

In a step to address the dilemma, the Minister of Education called on increasing sports and cultural activities in educational institutions as a protective step against any risky behavior, as 78% of students are not engaged in any activity.

On the other hand, applying the International Standards of Drug Use Prevention by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) might be effective in planning a comprehensive response to drug use within the education sector. Some of its standards include monitoring substance use prevalence among children and adolescents and preventing or reducing harmful patterns of use. 

Raising the awareness of families about adolescent psychology is another important step to eradicate the roots of the phenomenon, according to UNODC, as adolescence is a period known for its sensitivity, radical changes, and rebellion against parental and educational authorities. The key for a healthy adolescence is good communication, respect and understanding, it noted, adding that seeking the help of professionals such as psychologists or sociologists might help in eliminating such risky behavior.