People who sell or supply glue to children will soon be taken to task.
Due to the increase in inhalant abuse cases by students in the country and the fact that most are experimenting with it at a young age, a draft Volatile Substance Abuse Decree has now been prepared by the government.
Director of the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council, Misaele Driubalavu said consultations on the draft will be held with parents, the retailers association, Principals and Head Teachers and other key groups that will help students effectively deal with the issue. This will start from next month.
Driubalavu said glue sniffing and drug problems amongst students continue to grow with new challenges also arising.
He also said some people are trafficking these substances as they are buying the items in bulk from the shops and selling them to students.
Driubalavau said there is a loophole in the Crimes Decree where the Police do not have any powers to take people to task for selling volatile substances to children.
The draft decree now aims to control the sale and supply of volatile substances and the protection of children from any harm resulting from volatile substance abuse.
Under the draft, a person who sells or supplies a volatile substance to a child or purchases a volatile substance for the use of a child is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.
In 2006, six cases of inhalant abuse were reported, a year later it jumped to 30 and in the latest statistics of 2011 there are a total of 212 reported inhalant cases.
Story by: Gwen Mc Goon
