Drug use creeps up in Lebanese schools
Despite warnings circulating online about a new drug quickly spreading in Lebanese schools, experts say that while the issue deserves attention, drug abuse among students is not as widespread as the rumors suggest.
BEIRUT — In addition to their political, economic and living conditions, Lebanese parents have another concern: the spread of drugs in schools. This issue emerged when a message circulated via WhatsApp in mid-January 2015 stated that there is a new type of drugs in schools called “Strawberry Quik,” which looks like strawberry-flavored sweets. The news, which caused panic among parents and alarmed schools and security agencies, was soon determined to be false. There are still many rumors about the significant spread of drugs in schools and the high rate of abuse among teenagers. But how accurate are they?
Al-Monitor looked into this issue on the security level with the Anti-Drug Bureau of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), on the educational level with Secretary General of Catholic Schools Father Botros Azar and on the social level with Joseph Hawat, the president of one of the most prominent associations in this field since 1981, Jeunesse Anti Drogue (JAD). The conclusion: Drugs are present in Lebanese schools, but are not as prevalent as rumors suggest.
