Workshops on prevention of drug use to be held for students

Social Justice Ministry to roll out plan with help of States

Published - June 06, 2019 01:52 am IST - New Delhi

Workshops focussing on prevention of drug use would be conducted for about 8 lakh students around the country with the help of State education boards and NGOs this year, senior officials of the Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry said this week.

Apart from programmes for de-addiction and rehabilitation of those affected by drug abuse, the Ministry’s National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (2018-2025) highlights the need for education to prevent use of drugs among children.

High-risk groups

A top Ministry official said the workshops would be conducted for 8 lakh students with the aid of State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) and NGOs working in the field. This, according to officials, would be in addition to targeted drug demand reduction programmes to be rolled out in 127 districts that will focus on high-risk groups and youth.

According to the Magnitude of Substance Use in India report submitted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences to the Ministry in February this year, 1.3% of children between 10 and 17 years reported current use of alcohol, 0.9% reported use of cannabis, 1.8% reported use of opioid and 1.17% reported use of inhalants.

The Ministry official said the drug demand reduction programmes would emphasise on not stigmatising addicts, but rather trying to educate people, particularly school and college students.

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