Soft corner for addicts, iron fist for peddlers

Situation of drug menace in the society has become quite dreadful. It is a pity that youth are in throes of this menace. The major reason for this can be cited as unemployment which further leads to poverty and unfulfilled demands. To eradicate this social evil or to wean youth against drug should be the priority of the government. Although there are rehabilitation centres available in city but their condition is not up to the mark. Firstly, there should be properly maintained rehabilitation centres with best facilities of medicine and other treatments for drug addicts. There should be regular sessions and seminars to sensitise the youth. Activities should be organised in public parks, malls and cinemas wherein youth can perform street plays as well as take part in the activities which actually promote a drug-free society. Youth should turn to self help projects to prevent them from falling prey to drugs. Social media platforms as well as talk shows, interview and interactive sessions can take place promoting drug-free nation.

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Cheshta Vohra

Escapism and drug abuse interlinked

Drug use can start as a way to escape but it can quickly make ones life miserable. It is necessary to provide more information about drugs and their harmful effects. Prevention is the best way to keep people away from getting hooked to drugs. Eating healthy food and exercising regularly is another way of preventing drug and alcohol addiction. Being healthy and energetic also helps us to deal with stress. This reveals that seminars, workshops and awareness camps should be held on a regular basis to end drug menace in the society.

Mehak Bajaj

Keep constant  tab on drug addicts

Drug menace needs to be tackled at a rapid pace among youth. Parents need to play an important role and should extend support to their ward. Awareness drives must be held on a regular basis to highlight harmful effects of drugs. Addicts must be sent to only authorised rehab centres. Family members should make a point to keep a constant tab on a person who takes drugs. Keeping an addict motivated is the key to success. 

Akrita Budhiraja

Decide to make a change

One should remind himself the reasons why one wants to change. Set specific, measurable goals such as set limits for yourself on your drug use. Tell you family and friends that you're committed to recovery and ask for their support. Once you take charge, it's time to explore your treatment choices. A taper could be an excellent way for you to cut back on drugs, and it might even be a process you use in order to get sober. 

Deeksha

Punish kingpins

It is sad that drug epidemic is sweeping the state. Lakhs of amount is spent on the use of drugs and the situation is still not under control. If we are keen on saving our youth from falling prey to drug abuse, we all should come forward to help them recover in rehabilitation centres. Students should be educated about the ill-effects of this menace from younger stages of life. Parents and teachers must counsel them with patience. It is important to engage the youth in some physical activity. Parents and other members of society must put a check on their mobility. Drug sellers must be punished with jail or heavy fine.

Farzana Khan

Motivate addicts to seek proper treatment

It is always better to take parents in confidence if a child falls prey to drug menace. The person might need professional help to stop using drugs. A grownup individual can also help a drug addict find better coping mechanisms. 

Angel arora

Strengthen network of de-addiction services

The government should provide helpline numbers for children who wish to complain about peddlers and friends who are likely drug addicts, anonymously without having go to police station and reveal their identity. Legal action should be taken immediately to save youth from drugs.

Vaishnavi Kharbanda

Rehabilitation plays vital role in addicts’ llife

The menace of drug abuse is a global challenge and the developed as well as the developing nations are grappling with it. While people of any age group can fall prey to drug abuse, teenagers and youth are particularly vulnerable to the menace. The youth is the future and the backbone for the country. Rehabilitation is crucial to wean youngsters away from addiction and make them productive by bringing them into the mainstream. 

Khushbu Singla

Parents should discuss the issue with their wards

Drugs have a negative impact on the cognitive process of the youth. The only way to reduce its addiction is to teach students the ill-effects of alcoholism, instead of promoting it as a socially acceptable thing. The parents should discuss their ward’s issues with them and support them emotionally. 

Deepnayan Kaur

Shed peer pressure

We have been experiencing an alarming increase of drug abuse among the youth in the recent years. The inability to deal with the normal life pressure is one of the major reasons that drive youth to drugs. They do it to fit in their circle of friends. The guidance and support provided by the family makes it easier for a person to deal with the life pressures and stay away from all types of harmful substances. Sustained treatment is the only option for people who have already gone down the road of drug abuse. Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is another way of preventing drug addiction. The youth should take interest in books so that they can wean away from drugs. Education and counselling are very important for them. They should utilise their energy in some other activities such as sports, music, yoga and other extra-curricular activities. Highly qualified psychologists and psychiatrists can help the youth who are suffering from drug abuse. However, prevention is better than cure, we should focus on ways to prevent the youth who are likely to become addicts through peer influence, parents and teachers should counsel the youth regarding drug abuse and the negative effects of drugs. 

Kamaldeep Kaur

Enforce rules strictly

Punjab has a crippling drug problem and no amount of denial can hide it. According to the Narcotics Control Bureau's Reports, 50 per cent of drug-related cases in the country are from Punjab alone, a sign that the affliction has been allowed to gain a firm footing in the border state. It is high time to end Punjab's drug epidemic and everybody has to come together to do it. Active cooperation among community leaders and institutions, non-profit organisations, academics and policy makers is crucial for the transition to a drug-free Punjab. Raising awareness through street plays, nukkad nataks, lectures and seminars by schools and colleges should be done so as to sensitize the youth. Civil activists should come up with documentaries, anti-pledge programmes and awareness campaigns so as to spread awareness on this issue. Free de-addiction centres should be opened by the government. Drug smuggling and distribution is the official corruption that has been spreading without any checks.The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 is not being implemented in Punjab to control drug abuse. 

Jasdeep Kaur

Role of media vital

Youth can be weaned away from drugs by making them aware of the danger of drug abuse through special campaigns and by setting up mandatory medical check-up for drug intake at colleges and companies and also by adding up related topics in school curriculum at an appropriate age. Special helpline numbers for drug abuse victims and also make use of media role models to promote awareness.

Bismanpreet Kaur Chawla

Rope in family members of addict as well

Family plays an important role in tackling drug abuse. Elders can help children make good choices. They should help their children say no to drugs. Find ways to get the child involved in sports activities and other hobbies. They should counsel the students and make them realise the importance of being a responsible citizen

Ashima Saini

Indulge in physical activity

Addiction of anything is threatening and today's youth is entrapped in the menace of drugs. Indulging in any kind of physical activity such as jogging, exercise, yoga will help the youth to stay away from drugs and keep their mind fresh. Meditation is also another way which helps in diverting their mind from negativity. 

Kuljot Kaur

Set specific goals

There are so many other activities such as investing in career, bonding with family and your parents which are more interesting and fulfilling than abusing drugs. One should realise that abusing drugs and alcohol may not be fulfilling in the long run and sometimes leads to devastating events in people's lives. Recognising that you have a problem can be a first step towards change. 

Priyanka

Do not give way to  peer pressure

Sometimes the youth have an affinity towards the negative aspects of life. Here, the role of parents becomes crucial. As the education begins at home, parents must be really open to their young ones so that they can have a comfort level to discuss everything. With this, even the peer pressure for drugs can be overpowered. 

Muskan Arora

Help addicts steer straight

In Punjab, a good number of youth are involved in drugs. As per the report of the World Health Organisation, more than 4,50,000 people died as a result of drug use globally in a year.  Situation in Punjab is very alarming. Parents, teachers and students should be sensitised by the government. In schools and colleges students must be made aware of potential harm of drug use. The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should be roped in to highlight consequences of drug use. Even corporate sector must come forward to earmark funds for such activities under the Corporate Social Responsibility. Government must act tough against peddlers and put them behind bars. Youth must be kept occupied and under regular check. 

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Unemployed youth more prone to drug addiction

Youth is in jaws of drugs. The concrete reason for this is unemployment. An idle mind is a devil's workshop. When after getting first class degrees too, the youth are not able to get jobs to fulfill their dreams and aspirations, it is obvious that they will go off the track. This way we can distract the youth from drugs. The youth who are already a prey to drugs should be guided and counseled by trained counselors. The rehabilitation centers for drug addicts need to come up with concrete results. Even the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can also do the needful. Sometimes it’s an age old story- politicians and drug-suppliers nexus that goes on unabated. 

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Launch awareness drives

TTo get rid from the clutches of drugs, youngsters must keep themselves busy, spend time with their loved ones as strong relationships with family and loved ones is a protective factor against drug use. Set your goals as setting goals improve self-confidence and is also crucial to getting off of drugs. Talk to someone in authority about what's going on, such as a parent, teacher, or counselor etc. If you have friends, a family member who actively use drugs, stay away from them and definitely don't follow in their footsteps. Take up a hobby, spend more time laughing with friends, play a fun video game, or help others out, to feel better instead. Further, weaning the youth from magnitude of the challenge posed by drugs is an uphill task. The governmental agencies should take concrete steps to keep a tab on the sale and purchase of drugs in every corner of the state. 

Ravi Chander Garg

Regulate sale of drugs

Only authorised medical practitioners should be allowed for the sale of drugs. Drugs rehabilitation centre should be established and managed by experts and the government must be vigilant about its activities so that exploitation of addicts can be minimised. Policy of zero tolerance level must be followed in this regard. Rehabilitated persons should come forward and share their experiences and should convince others also. Psychiatric counselling of drug addicts must be done. Rewards must be given to the citizens who provide information related to exchange and consumption of drugs. Culprits should be punished with imprisonment and fine. India is witnessing this problem even at school level which is not a good sign for the future of the economy. Extension lectures must be organised at school and college levels and students must be made aware of the harmful impacts of drugs on their lives as well as on the lives of their family members. 

Ritu Priya

Instil positivity among  drug addicts 

Drugs have ensnared countless of youth in our state. Apart from making strict laws for the drug peddlers, stringent rules should be made for the drug abusers as well. There is also a need to instill a strong willpower and determination in children so that they can have a complete control over their actions. 

Lovisha Narula

OPEN HOUSE COMMENT

Effective parenting can go a long way

Minna Zutshi

Recent media reports highlighted that a mother had to chain her drug addict daughter to stop her from taking drugs. There have been reports of parents trying unsuccessfully to keep their children away from drugs. The problem of drug addiction has become so pervasive and deep-rooted that it is affecting physical, mental, emotional and psychological health of youth. It is also impacting deleteriously the family and social relationships.

Effective parenting during formative years can help in keeping youngsters away from drugs. Effective parenting entails educating children about negative consequences of using drugs. A detailed discussion, backed by facts and statistics, minus any emotional component can help youth in gaining a perspective on the problem. Parents have to look for factors that pre-dispose youngsters towards drug dependence. Children and teenagers with low self-esteem may fall prey to drug dependence. Parents’ role incudes keeping track and providing support whenever the need arises. 

The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) too have an important role in keeping youth off drugs. The NGOs can create awareness and educate youngsters about dark alleys of drugs.

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