We Need to Control the Scourge of Drug Addiction

Drug abuse, is the illicit consumption of any naturally occurring or pharmaceutical substance for reasons other than for medical use. They change the way in which a person feels, thinks or behaves and its addiction is severely hampering all aspects of life. The consequences of drug use are always worse than the problem one is trying to solve with them. Drug abuse and addiction is killing people morally, socially, psychologically, physically and even economically. Identified as a disease in 1956 by the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association, the number of people suffering from this hidden disease is increasing world over.

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College days are known to be the best part of any student's life, but they can also give nightmares to many, in terms of ragging and drug abuse.

In the past also we have lost students due to the inhuman practice called ragging, which starts with 'fun' by the seniors but ends up with consequences, sometimes with the victim committing suicide. The same is true of drug abuse. Students start taking drugs as part of their 'experimental' nature but end up becoming addicts.

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In the wake of increasing incidents of drug abuse by youth in the city, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials are planning to step up awareness drives among college and school students.

On Wednesday, the National Academy of Customs Excise and Narcotics (NACEN), which provides training to officials in Customs and drug laws, roped in NCB and Customs officials to provide an awareness seminar on drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The lectures were held at Loyola College of Engineering and Technology, in view of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking to be observed on June 26, and were attended by students from city colleges.

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CHANDIGARH: A daylong convention was organized at Panjab University (PU) on Saturday to motivate elected representatives to participate in awareness on drug abuse at panchayat level.

The convention, "Role of Panchayats in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention" was organized by the Society for Promotion of Youth & Masses (SPYM) in partnership with National Institute of Social Defence, ministry of social justice and empowerment; development and panchayat department, government of Haryana and department of community education and disability studies, Panjab University.

An assistant professor at AIIMS, Yatanpal, said, "The rural population, youth and adolescents are most vulnerable to drug abuse." He stressed that unemployment and nuclear family culture often led to the problem of drug abuse among youth. Youth should be made aware of the ill-effects of drugs and voluntary sector could help government reach these population groups, he added.

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With drug addiction among Punjab youths becoming a hot election topic, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley is not mincing words on the issue in the course of his campaign for the Amritsar seat though his political partners, especially some senior Akali leaders, are accused of encouraging the illicit trade.

As Jaitley put it in his blog on Friday, "Yesterday, I was addressing a public meeting at Rajasansi. The loudest cheer was reserved for a comment made against the drug addiction in the state. Enthusiastic applause came from that section of the audiences where a large number of women were seated. This explains it all."

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5000 capsules, 7 KG Charas, 26 gm brown sugar recovered, 20 arrested in 15 cases

Srinagar, Feb 22: Coming out of alleged slumber the City police has gone active against drug menace with a "record recovery of contraband narcotics" and arrest of 20 accused in separate cases in the past around a month, official sources said Saturday.

They said following embarrassment over alleged police slumber on drug menace, the cops have started a massive crackdown against drug-traffickers. "In the past around a month, during separate raids no less than 5000 Proxyvon capsules, seven kiliograms of Charas, 26 grams of brown sugar, 176 bottles of codeine have been recovered whereas 20 persons have been arrested for their link to drug trafficking," said a investigating officer in know of the matter adding that as many as 15 cases have been filed.

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Hostel Residents Laid Siege To The Busy Hospital Road For Close To An Hour In Protest.

Three inmates of Maharaja's College hostel were admitted to the General Hospital on Wednesday after they were beaten up by a gang of students from the same college allegedly as retaliation for campaigning against drug abuse on campus.

Habeeb, a first year student of BA Politics; Subin, a first year student of BA Islamic History; and Bibin, a visually challenged second year student of BA Politics, have been admitted to the hospital. The hospital authorities have not commented on their condition.

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