Reformed drug dependents roped in to create awareness

JALANDHAR: In a unique initiative, the district police and civil administration today roped in a number of reformed drug dependents, who have shunned their habit to disseminate the message of carving a drug-free district by encouraging other drug dependents to come out of this vicious circle.

A volunteer receives a certificate for involvement in drug de-addiction projects in Jalandhar on Monday. Tribune Photograph

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 24

In a unique initiative, the district police and civil administration today roped in a number of reformed drug dependents, who have shunned their habit to disseminate the message of carving a drug-free district by encouraging other drug dependents to come out of this vicious circle.

During a function organised in association with Bolster Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre at the local Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, the reformed drug dependents shared their experiences in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma and Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar.

The reformed drug dependents said addiction to drugs was not in the interest of any human being.

They said dependence on drugs ruined families. They added that the motivation for shunning drugs came from inside and support of family was must for that.

Addressing a gathering, the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner said the Drug Abuse Prevention Officer (DAPO) and Buddy programme had been started by the state government to create awareness on the issue.

Both officers said besides this, drug helpline had been launched at the district level where anybody could lodge a complaint and their identity would not be revealed to anybody.

The Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner said the motive behind roping in people who have already bore the brunt was to ensure that the people who have suffered must narrate their tales to the masses.

They said it would sensitise the drug dependents that if others could shun drugs then why couldn’t they.

Both officers said if a person had the willpower, it was quite easy to shun drugs, but due to social stigma attached to the menace, it needs a lot of courage to come forward and tell the people that they had won over the scourge.

The Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner added that the motive of organising this experience-sharing interactive session was to ensure that more drug dependents could be benefitted from it.

They said more such sessions would be organised in the coming days to eliminate the curse of drugs from the district.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Gurmeet Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police PS Bhandal, assistant commissioners of police Gurpreet Singh and Dharam Pal, Civil Surgeon Dr Gurinder Chawla, Dr Aman Sood and others were also present on the occasion.