MARGAO: Many Salcete kids are scoring high. And we are not talking about marks.
Raising concerns over the easy access to drugs by teenage students, parents from across Salcete taluka lamented that there is an unaddressed trend of these adolescent youth getting addicted to drugs, which can be bought literally off campuses. Well just outside in quiet lanes near schools and colleges.
Speaking without wanting to be identified, these parents said that teenage students especially those from Class IX-Class XII have easy access to drugs.
They pointed out that there are rules in place for no smoking near educational premises, these children head out to secluded areas to purchase and consume drugs.
The parents are worried about the influence drug peddlers have on these minors who may not be aware of the consequences of consuming drugs or how powerful these ’new-age drugs’ are. They hope that adequate awareness programmes are created to help change the mindset of the youth and keep them informed about the perils of drug consumption.
“We need to promote drug demand reduction programmes in a sustainable manner in Goa, i.e. primary prevention – a way of preventing initiation of psychoactive substance use or delaying the age at which use begins,” said Peter Borges, chairperson, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Borges is also the President of the Human Touch Foundation which runs the largest programme on drug demand reduction in Goa
“While supply reduction has been reinforced and addressed these days in an effective manner by law enforcement agencies, we need the political will and investment into drug demand reduction through special programmes, which aim to modify those factors which make these children vulnerable to substance experimentation and continuous use and dependence,” he said.
GOACAN convener Roland Martins also laid out an action plan on what needs to be done to curb this menace.
He said the first priority is that the campaign against drug abuse must become a people’s campaign and not only that of the Anti-Narcotic Cell (ANC) of the Goa Police.
“This serious issue of drug abuse must become an agenda item from September 27 (World Tourism Day 2022) onwards, in the meetings of the village panchayats, municipal councils, gram sabhas, Parent Teachers Associations, Headmasters’ Forum, Principals’ Forum, etc.
Martins, a social activist also felt the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) must arrange for the same to be discussed regularly in the meetings of the Village Health, Sanitation & Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) of all the newly elected 186 village panchayats. Urban Health Centres must launch special awareness programmes in collaboration with the service clubs, educational institutions and municipal councils.
“The most effective way of tackling substance abuse in Goa would be to have a comprehensive, balanced and coordinated approach, that addresses both supply control and demand reduction, which reinforce each other, together with the appropriate application of the principle of shared responsibility,” Borges added.
