Sensitise youth against drug abuse: Expert

Tribune News Service

Solan, February 20

SC Kainthla, District and Sessions Judge, Solan, said today that legal services institutions could contribute significantly to curb the menace of drug abuse and seminars to create awareness were a step in that direction.

He opined that punitive action was not the answer to drug-related crimes and proper sensitisation of the people, particularly the youth, about the ill-effects of drugs was the need of the hour.

He was addressing delegates at a one-day seminar organised by the District Legal Services Authority on drug abuse and awareness at Shoolini University here today. It was held in collaboration with the Young Links and Shoolini University.

Apart from creating awareness on drug abuse among youngsters, the seminar also threw light on its medical and legal implications.

Those who participated included schoolchildren and students from Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, LR Institute, Bahra University, Manav Bharti University, DAV Dental College, Post Graduate College and Shoolini University.

Sharing statistics with the participants, Sidharth Sarpal, Additional CJM-cum-traffic magistrate, Solan, said over 29.3 per cent of youth were addicted to tobacco-based drugs like cigarette, ‘gutka’ and ‘khaini’ and the total number of youths involved in substance abuse was alarmingly high. He added that in India the number of people dying of substance abuse was more than the lives lost in accidents.

Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kanwar dwelt upon the importance of life skills while addressing the gathering. He urged the participants to celebrate their uniqueness and develop their hobbies. Praising the initiative of the judiciary, he said such occasions would help in imparting awareness to tackle the menace of drug abuse.

DSP Amit Sharma shared various cases of youth committing crime under the influence of drugs. Noted psychiatrist Dr Virender Mohan shared case studies about patients suffering from various drug addictions. He threw light on the common misconceptions related to various drugs and how they affected the human body.

Addressing the gathering, clinical psychologist Vaishali Sharma said it was a common perception that one would not be addicted to a particular drug when an individual consumes it for the first time, but eventually ends up becoming an addict. “The consumption of drugs causes structural and functional changes in the brain and takes one away from reality,” said Sharma while sharing its clinical aspects.