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.
According to Prem Anand Sinha, zonal director of NCB, India acts as a transit country for illicit drug trafficking, owing to its proximity to the ‘golden crescent’ — Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan — and the golden triangle — Myanmar, Laos and Thailand — countries known for drug production. What is worrying, however, he said, is that India has also become a consumer of narcotics and psychotropic drugs, primarily by the youth.
“We aim at reaching out to all schools in the city to spread awareness on drug abuse. We already worked with 25 to 30 schools between March and April,” he said.
Jacquiline David of Treatment and Rehabilitation of Alcohol and Drug Addicts (TTK) Hospital stressed on busting myths about alcohol and drug abuse among the youth in order to prevent addiction. “Addiction leads to altered family dynamics, impacts finances and leads to physical and personality deterioration,” she said.
Pub culture in the city has resulted in many youth falling prey to abuse of ganja, ketamine and methamphetamine (street name ecstasy) and cocaine. S. Ravi Selvan, additional director of NACEN told The Hindu , “Significant number of children studying at residential schools and also those who frequent clubs abuse these drugs,” he said, adding that children from affluent backgrounds abuse cocaine, which is more expensive.
N. Ram, chairman of Kasturi and Sons Limited, who was the chief guest, called for an informed, science-based discussion on reducing the harm caused by drug abuse, and insisted on invoking stringent measures to tackle drug trafficking. “Anti-drug clubs in colleges should be more proactive. Educators need to get together and go on a missionary spirit in tackling abuse; they should appeal to youngsters’ imagination and present vivid case studies to drive home the point,” he said.
B. Akshaya, a third-year student of B.Sc. Nutrition at Ethiraj College, who attended the lectures with seven of her collegemates, said she signed up for the seminar because she wanted to know more about drug abuse and its effects. “We do not have much knowledge about drug abuse and trafficking. This was an eye-opener for us,” she said.
S. Ramesh, chief commissioner of Customs, M. Ponnuswamy, additional director general, NACEN, and M.M. Parthiban, additional director general, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, also addressed the students.
