Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 13: An interactive session on ‘The Bane of Drug Menace in Kashmir’, was organised by the Central Government Pensioners’ Welfare Association (Kashmir), in collaboration with Foundation World School, Mamat, Budgam.
The participants included Mohammad Shafi Pandit, former Chairman, J&K PSC and President CGPWA (K), members of the Governing Body of Foundation World School, headed by Syed Arshad Hussain, teaching and non-teaching staff of the school headed by Umar Sheriff, Executive Principal and a number of students. Technical Talk was delivered by Clinical Psychologist Dr Muzaffar.
In the key note address, M S Pandit said that in view of the exponential rise in the drug users and peddlers, it has become an urgent societal issue to be tackled with a multi-dimensional approach. He stressed the need of sensitising the Imams of mosques about the drug menace and enlisting their support for keeping a close watch on the use of drugs within the remit of these mosques.
Dr Muzaffar Khan, in the Technical Talk and interactive session, lamented that societal response towards drug menace was grossly inadequate as most parents as well as educational institutions are in denial about any drug problems pertaining to their wards or institutions. There has been a phenomenal change in the type of drugs used and their spread across various sections of the population, he added.
“Earlier the drugs used were mostly based on cannabis, then demand shifted in favour of medicinal opioids, and lately the consumption of Heroin has become rampant. Now there are also designer drugs in the market, which are meant to fool everyone so as to avoid being detected. Most drug users are now testing positive for Hepatitis C,” he explained.
The speakers stressed for concerted action on the part of Government, parents, educational institutions, civil society, other opinion leaders, towards creating awareness about this menace as well as keeping a tab on young boys and girls for the use of drugs by them. They suggested that every school needs a drug de-addiction policy, screening of staff and students, drug awareness campaign, active role by Police, NGOs and civil society in setting up and managing de–addiction centres, setting up of treatment Centres, etc.
Earlier, Executive Principal, Ummar Sheriff gave a brief account of the academic and management policies of the Foundation World School. Vote of thanks was presented by Secretary CGPWA (K).
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