Authorities urged to address Copen drug

By Taromane Martin

Police and other responsible authorities must wake up and address the manufacturing and alarming use of Copen within Honiara schools, as the number of users increase daily.

Principal of White River Community High School, Hampton Bekepio told SIBC News that Copen is a regular problem his teachers face and that school authorities are running out of options on how to deal with students who are addicted to the substance (drug).

“At the school level, this is a huge challenge for us teachers, especially in trying to uphold discipline on students.

“It would be a huge relief for us teachers if the responsible authorities intervene and take the lead to try and address this issue.

“Those of us here at the school level have tried to address it, going as far as talking to the police and even those from the Australian Community Policing Team that came to our school, about the possibilities of banning Copen just like the other illegal substances. 

“For us here at White River School, yes this is a big problem we face regularly because from some of the stories we hear, the manufacturers for Copen are selling their packets like betel nuts.   

“We have tried enforcing discipline through a two week suspension for students caught with Copen but we also realize this will also affect their education.

“As a school leader I will be really happy if authorities like the Ministry of Health take the lead here to try and solve this issue of the drug Copen,” he said.

Mr Bekepio explained the difficulty in stopping the manufacturing of Copen is because this tobacco infused product cannot be categorized the same as other illegal substances like Marujuana, making it difficult for police to act.

“According to the Community Policing Team from Australia that visited us, their response and findings in their report was that Copen is not listed as an illegal drug.

“We’ve gone to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force about the possibility of making copen illegal so police take arrest and take criminal case against the manufacturers of Copen because the students from my point of view are just victims who are curious and want to experiment on things.

“This is the predicament those of us here at the school level face. We have tried suspending students but like I said the students will only be the ones affected. So, what more can we do?,” he said.

Principal Bekepio meanwhile called on authorities to stop sleeping on this issue of manufacturing, selling and widespread use of Copen amongst students in Honiara and address it. 

“I will not say it’s timely, but it’s overdue that responsible authorities quickly address this issue because I know they are aware of it. 

“Authorities need to step up and stop the people who are manufacturing Copen,” Bekepio adds.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services meanwhile have also raised concerns regarding the increasing number of students using copen in Honiara.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Deputy Secretary Health Improvement, Dr Nemia Bainivalu in his keynote address during the World No Tobacco Day last Friday in Honiara, said the ministry will be working with other relevant authorities to try and solve this issue

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