TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Goa Police has begun awareness campaigns in schools and for the masses to reduce demand for drugs to ensure permanent success in the fight against drugs in the state.
The anti-narcotics cell of the police has laid special focus on youngsters, to make them understand the long-term devastating effects of drug abuse.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Dr O P Mishra said drug demand reduction is an important aspect which will be possible only by focusing on the ill-effects of drugs abuse.
“Without demand for drugs, the supply will automatically dry up. All this will be possible by creating awareness and targeting the vulnerable groups by educating them on drug-related health and social risks,” he told Herald.
The department has planned a series of anti-drug awareness campaigns for students, as they are the most vulnerable assets of society. Quoting the UNODC’s World Health Report 2010, Mishra said drug abuse is prevalent among those aged between 15 and 64 years.
“It is a global trend and students do come under this category. They are vulnerable to such things mainly due to peer pressure,” he underlined.
This being the main reason, Goa police, in its new initiative, has resorted to a series of awareness campaigns and lectures since Wednesday which was observed as International Anti-Drug Abuse day, for students to understand the long term ill-effects on the use of illicit drugs.
DIG Mishra and Narcotics Control Bureau, have also taken up the initiative and are holding interactive sessions with students on the subject.
The State police has prepared a two-page pamphlet explaining negative consequences of drug abuse and ‘prevention tips’ for parents, students and teachers.
On the enforcement side, the department is keeping a watch on suspicious outlets, especially around schools and the coastal belt, which are part of the supply chain. The IPS officer denied drug availability in school campuses. “We haven’t received any specific input on that yet… However we are keeping a watch at places based on inputs from local intelligence,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NCB Goa Zone will soon be displaying anti-drug signboards at places like clubs, discos and other eateries – covering 2,500 establishments, to make people aware about drug abuse. NCB Goa Superintendent Ravi Kumar Rana told Herald they would crack down on suspicious places where narco-trade is often noticed and ensure that these places are shut down.
