During fifth period on Monday, February 9, a we held a Drug Abuse Prevention Seminar for students in grades 5 to 9.
We invited our school pharmacist, Mr. Iizuka, as the guest speaker. His talk focused on three main points:
- What are drugs?
- What happens when drugs are abused?
- What can we do now to build and maintain a healthy body?
He explained in a clear and accessible way about issues we often hear about in society, such as doping and overdosing. While there are many types of illegal drugs, much of the information about them is spread through social media and the internet. That is precisely why it is important not to be misled by unreliable information, but instead to gain accurate knowledge and make responsible decisions for ourselves.
He also spoke about the harmful effects of alcohol and tobacco, as well as the dangers of excessive caffeine intake. Even caffeine, which is familiar to many children, can negatively affect the body if consumed in large amounts—similar to drugs.
We learned that preventing drug abuse begins with maintaining our own health. Students then thought together about the question:
What can we do to build a healthy “mind” and “body”?
Various answers were shared, such as:
“Washing hands and gargling.”
“Taking time to refresh and relax!”
Students reflected on what they had learned:
“I often consume too much caffeine, so after hearing this talk, I want to be more careful.” (Grade 5 girl)
“I learned that accidental doping can become a serious problem. I want to be careful not to let that happen.” (Grade 7 girl)
“I learned that even trying drugs just once is not okay.” (Grade 6 boy)
“Drug abuse — Not even once.”
It was a meaningful session in which students engraved this important message in their hearts.
