Organisation wants to help educate parents to be anti-drugs role models
We concur strongly with Yang Lam in advocating that parents have an important role to play in the fight against youth drug abuse ("Parents can help to curb drug abuse", September 23).
As an organisation that provides health awareness and drug prevention programmes to help young people establish a healthy lifestyle and become aware of the dangers of drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol, Life Education Activity Programme (Leap) agrees on the need to educate parents to help them to understand their role better.
A happy family is the solid foundation in children's healthy development, and teaching children the difference between right and wrong should not be left just to schools, but should be joint efforts between the family, the school and the community.
Ms Lam said that parents "need to be alert and note any changes in behaviour in their sons and daughters" and that "youngsters need a pleasant, stress- and conflict-free family environment".
These are exactly what Leap has been trying to help parents achieve through its parent programme.
Leap offers education programmes for parents that help equip them with the knowledge needed to improve parental skills, and have a better understanding of drugs.
Only by knowing the dangers of drugs can parents be in a position to help the positive development of their children, and to help prevent drug abuse in the family.
As acknowledged by Ms Lam, more can also be done in schools.
Promoting a healthy lifestyle to children is an important path for preventing drug abuse, and goes back to the importance of preventive education from a young age, which can best be done in schools.
Schools should be encouraged to devote more time and resources to drug education which is most effective if developed as a proactive approach to preparing all students to deal with issues they may encounter in their lives.
We also endorse her encouragement of celebrities to join the fight against drugs.
We are proud to say that Andy Lau Tak-wah is Leap's health ambassador and has actively supported our programme in many ways over the last 16 years.
Leap is one of several agencies in Hong Kong that offers preventive education to young people and their families by reaching out to schools.
