East region: drug consumption in schools on a rise
The consumption of drugs in most schools in the East region of Cameroon has become a common practice by students. School officials say it has been facilitated by hoodlums who disguise themselves to get access to school campuses.
According to the Principal of Government Bilingual High School (GBHS) Bertoua, Paul Eyong AyukEgbe, several students in his institution have been caught red-handed during school hours smoking marijuana and other hard drugs:
“These students who are mostly in high school were caught by their teachers smoking in class while lessons were been given. They were seen with drugs like cannabis and marijuana”.
He says some delinquents have developed a habit of waiting for students around school campuses to sell drugs like tramadol and cannabis to them.
At the College Adventist in Bertoua, the same situation reigns. The Principal, David Meiteh says those who supply these students with hard drugs usually come in from the neighborhoods.
The school officials on their part are reinforcing checks at the school entrances and plan on getting the police involved when need be.
Drug consumption in schools across the country has become one of the most common deviant behaviors displayed by students.
The Global Youth Tobacco Survey says about 15-18% of school children consume drugs in Cameroon. This drug consumption, research shows, is most often the cause of violence in schools, early pregnancy, the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and also has caused many students to drop out of school.
