Due to the increase of illegal drug and alcohol use among Tongan youth, the Nuku'alofa Tonga Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted a drug awareness devotional on 23 September 2019 at the Nuku'alofa stake centre in Maufanga.
Organizers invited youth from the Free Wesleyan Church, and others from the community, to this special event.
Guests included Mr. Tupou Tu’ilautala from the Vaiola Hospital, Mr. Mausa Halahala from the Tonga Youth, Reverend Semisi Kava and Manoa Sili from the Tonga Police.
Youth from the Popua Free Wesleyan church performed a musical number.
The current state of the drug epidemic in Tonga was discussed. It was noted that drug use among females is similar to use among males. A need for the nation to come together and collaborate on how to stem the use of drugs and help those who have become involved was recognized.
Reverend Semisi mentioned that the equipment used to make the drug, crystal ice, can be found in homes and around the community.
The gathering was the beginning of the drug awareness program in the Nuku'alofa area, and the committee hoped for more collaboration meetings to help spread the word throughout the country.
Several members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attended the awareness devotional and were in support of the initiative to reach out to the people.
The committee’s goal is to educate the youth and their parents so they can better understand the dangerous effect of drugs, especially methamphetamines.
It is also believed that increased knowledge of these effects will lessen the number of cigarette smokers in the future.
It is the community leaders’ desire to help young people make better choices based on increased understanding of the facts.
Newsroom contributor: Faafetai Tuikolovatu, Nuku’alofa, Tonga