Preventing Drug-Related Crime Among Young People: A Priority

Protecting young people from drug-related crime means safeguarding their health, education and future. This requires cooperation among families, educational institutions, neighbourhood communities and relevant professionals. Prevention should centre on young people’s safety, rights and access to assistance.

Recruitment into unlawful activity sometimes begins with an ordinary job offer or a friendly request. Examples include promises of “quick money,” delivering an unknown package or temporarily storing an item. A concealed client identity, unexplained duties and demands for secrecy are reasons for caution. Every job offer should make clear who is involved, the terms of the work and its purpose.

Legal education should help young people understand the consequences of carrying out unlawful instructions. However, age, appearance or social connections are not grounds for assuming someone is involved in crime. Prevention discussions should focus on concrete situations, responsible decisions and ways to seek help.

Educational institutions can provide practical sessions on refusing suspicious offers, resisting peer pressure and checking online vacancies. Young people should know who will listen to their concerns and where support is available. Expanding opportunities for sport, creativity, professional development and lawful employment should also form part of prevention efforts.

Parents and educators should take young people’s concerns seriously without turning conversations into threats or accusations. Behavioural changes can have different causes; avoid labelling someone on the basis of assumptions. Problems involving substance use or dependence require assistance from an appropriate healthcare professional.

Where there are signs of recruitment into criminal activity, do not encourage a young person to investigate independently or attend a dangerous meeting. Safely preserve existing messages and contact the competent authorities. Supporting those who ask for help, respecting their dignity and assisting them in finding a lawful solution are shared responsibilities.