Busan Education Office Launches All-Out Campaign for School Drug ZERO

Focusing on Experiential Education Such as Student Participation Drug Prevention Musicals

Busan Metropolitan Office of Education (Acting Superintendent Choi Yoon-hong) is launching an all-out campaign to achieve ZERO drugs in schools.

To mark the new semester, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education plans to focus on implementing thorough and effective education to create healthy and safe schools free from harmful substances such as drugs.

According to the survey on the misuse of harmful substances conducted last year by the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education targeting 70,062 elementary, middle, and high school students in Busan, only 0.09% (66 students) reported experience with harmful substances including drugs, a significant decrease compared to 0.49% in 2022 and 0.43% in 2023, showing a steady downward trend.

However, the Office recognizes this as the last golden opportunity for drug prevention in schools and plans to establish a stronger and more detailed prevention and response system.

In 2022, Busan Metropolitan Office of Education became the first in the nation to form a team of specialized instructors commissioned by the education office to raise awareness about the harms of drugs and foster vigilance. This year, they will take a step further by introducing various educational methods to strengthen practical skills so that students can make the right choices when faced with harmful substances.

In particular, the “Student Participation Drug Prevention Musical” performances will be expanded to allow students to actively participate in the educational play. For experiential drug prevention education, booths will be operated, and educational methods using games and curling will be introduced. Additionally, the specialized drug misuse prevention education program at the Busan Student Health Promotion Center located on the first floor of Banyeo Elementary School will also be expanded.

To increase student interest, a “Harmful Substances No No” campaign song using a hook song will be distributed to schools, and support for ZERO harmful substances busking on the way to school and a Reels campaign to foster a culture of drug prevention will be actively promoted.

The response system for students who have used harmful substances has also been strengthened. The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education developed individual and group educational counseling programs for students using harmful substances last year in cooperation with the College of Nursing at Pusan National University, and has prepared a rapid and proactive response system including immediate support by visiting schools when incidents occur.

Cooperation with related organizations will also be further strengthened to eradicate drugs in schools. Following the formation of a consultative body with the Busan Drug Eradication Movement Headquarters, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Police Agency, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, cooperation with the International Religious Federation will be established on the 20th to further enhance the effectiveness of school drug prevention.

Acting Superintendent Choi Yoon-hong emphasized, “To not miss the golden time for drug prevention, our office has prepared various programs tailored to students’ perspectives with the goal of drug-free and safe schools for the new semester. We will do our best to respond strongly and systematically so that not a single student is exposed to the dangers of harmful substances.”