Ezra Napoleon Tumuhirwe

Family Drug Use Prevention Intervention during COVID 19 pandemic

Ezra Napoleon Tumuhirwe - 1 December 2020

Drug Addiction Free Africa is implementing a "Listen First" Drug Use Prevention Campaign targeting 1200 families in the city Kampala, Uganda during COVID 19 pandemic.

Suddenly, parents are facing an urgent challenge: how to protect themselves and their children from a rapidly spreading infectious disease. However, families face the dilemma of protecting their children from life challenges that include drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, risky behaviors, sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS, crime, and domestic violence.

'Listen First' is an initiative to increase support for the prevention of drug use that is based on science and is thus an effective investment in the well-being of children and youth, their families, and their communities. Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe. The website of the campaign is www.unodc.org/listenfirst. The campaign includes information, developed by experts, parents, and policymakers.