Sir,
This has reference to the editorial’Drug addiction fighting measures'(DE, June 30, 2018). Drug addiction is one of the challenges the world is fraught with.It is not uncommon to read news of many youth falling prey to drugs and unfortunately dying a painful death because of overdose or severe addiction leaving for their parents a life full of sorrow and grief.Though the drug addicts can be treated like any other disease by the process of deaddiction which involves many measures, very few people go the deaddiction centres due to lack of awareness or for fear of social stigma attached with drug addiction.Thus, this malaise keeps on assuming alarming proportions in the society.
Therefore,there is urgent need to create massive awareness in the youth about the harmful effects of drug addiction.It can be done by holding seminars, debates, rallies, skits,awareness camps, etc in the educational institutions, hospitals, community halls etc.It is also wise to invite the people/celebrities who gave up drugs and who have started leading a normal life to such programmes to serve as an example to the drug addicts that they can deaddict themselves and lead a normal life.Films showing harmful effects of drugs and the ways to avoid these drugs should be screened.
Moreover,in view of the fact that this malaise is spreading its tentacles with each passing day, Deaddiction centres need to be opened at tehsil level to provide an easy access to those affected by it.More and more youth should be involved in games by providing playgrounds at block level so that they keep themselves away from drugs.The provisions of NDPS Act need to be strictly implemented and those involved in drug trafficking and ruining our most valuable resource-the youth need to be awarded strict punishment to serve as deterrent.The Home Department and the Departments of School Education, Higher Education, Health and Medical Education, Child Development, Social Welfare Department etc must work in perfect coordination in organising programmes in creating awareness in the masses about the ill effects of drug addiction and taking effective steps for rooting out this malaise once and for all.
Ashok Sharma,
Udhampur.
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