Months into the 2025 academic year, parents and teachers in and around Honiara are voicing growing concerns over a homemade drug that has been circulating in schools and communities for years now.
The drug, known locally as ‘Copen’ or ‘Scoop,’ is produced using tobacco and other household substances readily available in nearby shops. Once manufactured, it is sold in small sachets for $5 each.
With users as young as primary school students, authorities, schools and communities for years have been fighting to stop the spread of the threat but have seen little effect.
“As a parent, I’m now hesitant to give my son lunch money,” said Dorish Sale, a concerned parent. “The drug is even sold just outside school compounds, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Something must be done before it’s too late.”
Mrs. Sale emphasized that it is a shared responsibility between schools and communities to tackle the issue.
Also facing the issue for some time now, David Polosomana, Principal of Coronation Christian School said, there are evidence which shows that students have been using the drug on school grounds.
“This has been a long-standing issue for our school and we have seen students struggling to concentrate. Copen can be taken at any time and anywhere, which makes it difficult for us to identify users.”
He added that stains have been found inside classroom desks, and small plastic sachets have been discovered in ablution block.
“During recent spot checks, we even found packets of Copen in students’ bags and it is clear evidence that students are bringing it to school.”
Polosomana believes that better cooperation between parents and teachers is crucial to tackling the issue.
“I think it would be easier to address this problem if teachers and parents worked together and maintained strong communication,” he said.
According to him, the drug is most commonly used by students from Grade 4 to Form 3, with fewer cases reported among senior students. The school has also suspended a significant number of students in relation to Copen use.
“At our school, if a student is found taking this drug, the case is brought before the disciplinary committee. After notifying the parents, the student is suspended for one week,” he explained.
Polosomana also added that around ten suspensions have already been done this semester alone in relations to copen use.
With no official classification of copen as an illegal substance, Polosomana is urging the relevant authorities to take swift action.
“The authorities need to formally define Copen as a drug so that schools can revise their rules and enforce stronger measures. Right now, we treat it as a drug based on common sense, but not by law and that limits what we can do,” he said.
By Timothy Inifiri Jnr
Solomon Star, Honiara
