CHENNAI: The Adyar Cancer Institute, in association with the NSS wing of University of Madras, will conduct a series of life skills training programmes for students of city colleges over the next four months.
The programme, to be supported by the World Health Organisation and the Union Government, is aimed at preventing initiation of college students into tobacco and alcohol.
According to a recent Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), children in the 13-15 age group form 17.5 per cent of tobacco users in India. The survey says that everyday about 5,500 persons below 15 years start using tobacco.
Officer-in-charge, Tobacco Control, Department of Preventive Oncology, Cancer Institute, E. Vidhubala said, “an adolescent may experiment with alcohol, drugs or tobacco owing to peer influence. Even if one of the high-risk behaviours is acquired, the possibility of the adolescent slipping into others is high because of peer influence.”
A team of 18 peer counsellors from various city colleges would be involved in the programme. They would speak to students about the hazards of using tobacco and alcohol.
The programme will be held between August and November and is free of cost.
Social Welfare Minister Poongothai will inaugurate the programme on Friday.
Madras University Vice-Chancellor S. Ramachandran, and Cancer Institute chairperson V. Shanta are among those who will be present.
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