As concerns regarding the impact of drugs on youths and children continue to grow, St Giles Psychiatric Hospital Senior Mental Health Nurse Loata Vosaniyavu says they are very concerned that a lot of people that are being admitted because of drugs are between the ages of 18 to 35, with the youngest methamphetamine addict being a 14-year-old boy.
While speaking in the i-Taukei language during an evangelism programme conducted by the Masu Ga Ministry at Drekena Village in Rewa, Nurse Vosaniyavu says before, only elderly and old people with mental health problems were admitted to the hospital, but nowadays, most patients are youths who abuse hard drugs.
She says people in this age group are supposed to be doing village and community work and also looking after their families. Vosaniyavu further says before, they would see people who abuse marijuana being admitted, however, this has changed as people are using hard drugs such as methamphetamine and ketamine.
The Senior Mental Health Nurse adds that this has resulted in congestion at the hospital, and they had to release those who have started to improve so they can provide services to those who really need them.
While speaking on the impact of drugs on the lives of children, Vosaniyavu told the youths and children of Drekena Village in Rewa that parents do not want to raise their children and send them into the world unprepared, and if they do not listen to the teachings of their parents and do things that are not taught to them, then they will end up in jail or St Giles or even dead
