Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use alcohol and other drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, peer pressure, feeling good, reducing stress, feeling grown up or trying to fit in. In any case, in its report on ?Youth Health risk behaviour in Mauritius: prevalence and determinants?, the Mauritius Institute of Health has rung the alarm bell on drug use in schools. While one out of two pupils has tried alcohol or smoking, one out of five has already tried marijuana, heroin or other drugs. As the scourge is on the rise and tends to affect all strata of society, there is a need for teachers to try and communicate better with their pupils on this specific issue.

According to the police, ?some teachers prefer to remain silent on this issue because they do not want to put the reputation of their school at stake?. This is far from the solution. If we want to fight this trend in an effective way, drugs should no longer be a taboo issue. It should be discussed openly at school so that pupils are aware of the threats drugs can have to their health as well as their success at school.

If drugs have no rightful place anywhere in society, they have even less of a place in academic environments where teens are living their most formative years. The potential dangers of drug use may be the drop of academic performance along with one of the levels of responsibility and may lead to problems such as playing truant, failing to complete assignments, etc.

But, even more seriously, starting using drugs at school level may be even more dangerous for pupils considered psychologically weak. They can become heavily dependent on drugs and get caught in the vicious circle for a number of years after school.

This is why it is important for teachers to have open discussions with their pupils from time to time. This could lead them to pinpoint those most at risk and make sure they give special attention to those pupils. Those with a family history of substance abuse, who are depressed, have low self-esteem or feel like they don?t fit in or are out of the mainstream, may be among those who will develop dependence on drugs.

A decreased interest, a negative attitude towards school, a drop in grades, many absences or discipline problems may be warning signs of teenage drug abuse, so teachers must be aware of such behaviours.

Teachers must also be there to make sure pupils do not give in to peer pressure. It is often with fellow pupils that a young person starts taking drugs. Hence, they must be taught to handle making responsible choices when they are younger.