Santo Domingo.- The Public Health Ministry issued a call to Dominican families Friday,urging them to prevent minors from buying alcoholic drinks or visitingestablishments that sell them without the appropriate supervision.
The director of the ministry’s mental health department, Dr. Ángel Almanzar said that accordingto the ENDESA 2013 survey, young people between the ages of 19 and 29 make upthe group that consumes most psychoactive substances, and called on parents tocomply with Law 136-3 on the Code for Protection of Children and Adolescents,dated 7 August 2003.
He stated that “on the occasion of the start of theschool year, more efforts must be placed on supervision, both at home and atschool, as this population group is most vulnerable to acquiring habits likedrinking alcohol and using other substances, such as drugs”.
Almanzar also called for responsible parentingpractices so that children don’t emulate bad habits, as part of parents andschoolteachers’ responsibility to promote a culture of values.
The official pointed out that an agreement signed inMay this year between the ministry, the Dominican Association of BeerManufacturers, the Dominican Association of Rum Producers and the AssociatedRepresentatives of Wine and Liquor Importers outlines joint actions aimed atpreventing children and adolescents from consuming alcohol, drugs and otherpsychoactive substances to the detriment of their mental and physical health.
He was accompanied by Dr. Rafael Jacques,director of the School Health Program, in representation of DIGEMIA director JoséMordán.