Dear Editor,

I do hope the Government and the appropriate regulatory authority of Jamaica are proactive and are aware of happenings on the international scene.

Recently, British Broadcasting Corporation, after some investigation, reported on the epidemic of the abuse of cough syrups in Nigeria and the devastating effects it had been having on the youth of that country.

Codeine-based syrups are widely available in Jamaica and steps need to be put in place to safeguard against inappropriate sale and distribution of same. Unscrupulous people only want an inch of an opportunity to capitalise on.

Our kids are exposed on social media and, as the saying goes, curiosity kills the cat. Let it not be a case in which, now having the knowledge of the highs to be had from these medication, they start experimenting and get hooked.

Already this year we had a scare with the wet spliff stemming from improper use of embalming fluid. Let us prevent another plague from stealing our already vulnerable youth.

M R Hector

St Elizabeth

mrhector17@gmail.com