The Hindu : Karnataka News : Goa police launch yearlong programme on drug abuse

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Tuesday, Jun 28, 2011
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Karnataka

Goa police launch yearlong programme on drug abuse

Special Correspondent

Goa Director-General of Police Aditya Arya launching the programme on drug abuse in Panaji on Monday. Superintendent of Police Vijay Singh and Police Medical Officer Kalpana Mahatme are seen.

PANAJI: The Goa police on Monday launched a yearlong programme on drug abuse at a function here.

The programme has been taken up by the Goa State Police in collaboration with Muktangan Mitra Rehabilitation Centre, Pune, and the Narcotics Control Bureau, Goa. The campaign is being launched collectively as part of “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”.

Director General of Police Aditya Arya, Superintendent of Police Vijay Singh, Superintendent of Police (NCB) Ajay Thakekar, Roland Martins of GOACAN, Superintendent of Police (Crime) Atmaram Deshpande, Sanjay Bhagat, coordinator, Muktangan Mitra, Pune, and Police Medical Officer Kalpana Mahatme were present.

Mr. Arya asked the youngsters to say “No” to drugs. He said this programme had been taken up to help students gain knowledge of drugs and their harmful effects. In case of drug abuse, the recovery rate was five per cent, but “we have been able to help children refrain from drugs, therefore, keeping oneself away from the drugs is the best solution,” he said.

Mr. Sanjay Bhagat said statistics for the past five years showed that problem of substance abuse was increasing among children, adolescents and women. The average age of substance users was decreasing. The main reason for this trend was social acceptance and changing attitude within society about the use of alcohol and smoking.

To achieve desirable results and positive environment, Muktangan, with support from the Goa Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau, would conduct awareness programmes and lifestyle guidance at schools and colleges all over Goa, he said. This year's theme given by the United Nations Office for Drug and Crime is “Think health – not drugs”, and based on this, a year-long programme has been chalked out on four modules of (1) Addiction, (2) Stress Management, (3) Career Guidance, and (4) Personality Development to reach out to our future generations.

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