Police urge communities to help fight drug abuse among children

The Deputy Police Spokesperson has called on communities to support the police in combating the abuse of Tramadol and other illicit drugs among children.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Eye Radio, Lieutenant Colonel Lith Wilson Simon says drug abuse, including Tramadol, continues to be a major challenge confronting the police.

The senior police officer called for support from families and communities to cooperate with authorities in combating drug abuse, saying it has affected many children.

“The primary challenge we face as police is the problem of tramadol, other drugs, and substances that are causing our children to become intoxicated,” she said.

“Through our community policing efforts, we emphasize the need to combat drug abuse. However, implementing these measures cannot be achieved by law enforcement alone; it requires support from the community. For example, if you observe someone buying or abusing drugs, you should report it to the nearest police station or inform law enforcement officers,” she added.

Lt. Col. Lith says drug abuse among street children is becoming a growing concern, with some increasingly involved in drug use, violent assaults and theft of handbags from the public.

According to Lt. Col. Lith, efforts to address drug abuse cannot be achieved by law enforcement alone.

“Community members have a vital role in protecting children, beginning at home and extending to the wider society. My message to all six organized forces, such as the Police, National Security, and South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), is very clear: you must understand your mandates and duties as outlined in the constitution,” she stated.

A human rights group has largely attributed the growing trend of drug use among young people to the country’s economic difficulties, which have left some parents without enough resources to meet their children’s basic needs.

Last week, dozens of officers from the South Sudan National Police Service and other departments received child protection training.

The training aims to provide officers with practical skills and tools to effectively identify, prevent, document and respond to violations against children.