Open House: Getting high not cool, embrace life for real pleasure

Open House: What should be done to free society from drug menace?

Every year, June 26 is celebrated as World Drug Day but we still have a long way to go to save India’s youth from the menace. Mere seminars, campaigns or slogans are not enough. To combat rampant drug abuse, the youth has to be sensitised on the harmful effects and its repercussions. Primary prevention with the help of schools/colleges, family-based programmes, different sports and nukkad nataks could prove beneficial. The government must take strict action and make stringent laws to reduce production and distribution of illicit and synthetic drugs. But above all, each one of us should pledge to help and make each other aware of its repercussions to save the youth, the future of this country.

Dr Navdeep Kaur

Teenagers vulnerable, must be protected

Drugs often spoil the lives of impressionable teenagers. In spite of the best efforts of the authorities, the menace goes unabated in our state and the country at large. Parents must be extra cautious and watch the activities of their grown-up wards very minutely and also see what type of company they keep. Teachers, elders and media have their own role to play in making children aware about this evil. Hostel wardens should also be very strict. The police must give exemplary punishment to drug peddlers.

Dr Sunil Chopra

OPEN HOUSE QUESTION

Even as Ludhiana continues to lead the state in ongoing Covid vaccination drive by crossing the 1.2-million mark, the district is still far away from achieving the target. What should be done to vaccinate each and every eligible individual?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]

Collective efforts needed

The first step to control the use of drugs by youth can be to educate them about its ill-effects. Once they get addicted, the youth go to various lengths to sustain the habit, including stealing. Education programmes against drug addiction must be started at school level itself, followed by college. It is at these ages that the youth pick up such habits. Once mature, they start distinguishing between right and wrong. The assistance of teaching faculty can be availed to make such education programmes a success. Such initiatives must also be taken up in different municipal zones during evening hours, where parents can be invited and educated about ways to keep their wards away from drugs. These educational meetings must be organised in groups of villages as well because the menace is present there too. Also, more drug de-addiction centres must be started. The staff members of such institutions can also educate youth against drug abuse. Action must also be taken to stop illicit trade of drugs. Those involved in this trade must be severely punished, not only with fine but with sentencing. For this, the help of local police must be sought. Further, there must be a strict watch on the borders to stop smuggling of drugs from abroad.

Gautam Dev

Supply chain must be snapped

In order to free the society of drugs, the need is to contain both the demand as well as supply of such substances. Campaigns help in bringing down the demand by creating awareness but to eradicate this menace completely, smuggling must be stopped. For that, there is a need for greater synergy among special task force, police and intelligence wing. A good example is that of the 97 villages in Sangrur where no case of smuggling has been reported for the past five years as residents are cooperating with the police, informing them of smuggling bids and the police are able to take timely and strict action against the offenders.

Medha Batra

Small steps, big changes

To rid the country of drug menace, we need to first rid it of corruption. Though a lot of effort has been put in, there is no end to drug supply. As sincere citizens, if we notice some illegal practice among our friends or in parties, we must raise our voice against it. Such small efforts can bring about a large change in society. Also, authorities need to be stricter against these crimes. More stringent laws and heavier fines need to be imposed while repeat offenders should be sentenced. The government can also help the addicts by providing them free healthcare.

Simarjot Kaur

Parents should spend time with children

The drug menace needs to be strictly handled in Punjab. Ludhiana has become the hot spot of drug peddlers. Many youth have lost their lives so far. The administration and the civic body must join hands to tackle the challenge. The problem has become more serious in cities where there are nuclear families with both the parents working. Parents are providing them every kind of luxury but fail to give them quality time. Parents need to give their children emotional and mental support. The children feel neglected at this tender age. When they feel any kind of stress or anxiety, they find solace in. Soon, it becomes their habit and they find it difficult to leave it. So, parents should be vigilant enough to identify the problem at the outset and help them out with their support and love.

Sangeeta Jain

Stop politicising the issue, punish guilty

It is unfortunate that the government has failed to control the drug menace and illicit trade so far. It shows lack of sincere efforts on its part. Every party play a blame game to accuse other party. In fact our aim has been to achieve the high percentage of votes and win election. All these issues are raised near the assembly elections. After the results these issues are forgotten. The menace need not be politicised, this is our common problem.

JBS Nanda

Reduce demand of drugs

The most important effort to reduce drug trade is to reduce the demand. Teenagers who easily fall prey to drugs should be regularly counselled about the fatal effects of drugs. Drug dealers should be fined heavily and punished accordingly. A confidential drug control cell should be launched at local levels including students, teachers, and employees etc. to check the illicit activities going on in the city.

Amarpreet Kaur

Time to join hands in fight

The rampant drug abuse in Punjab is destroying a generation of youth of the state. India needs its youth to contribute towards nation-building. To get rid of this menace, the focus must be to reduce demand and cut off supplies. The municipal councillor, sarpanches and the politicians must work in tandem. To reduce the drug demand, parents, teachers and community leaders have to play a big role. Holistic treatment centres should be set up. The government needs to create skill training programmes to generate employment, encourage sports and other activities. The colleges and social organisations should frequently organise anti-drug awareness programmes. The government should be strict to enforce the existing law and hang a few drug dealers which would deter others not to deal with such menace and jail all those who use/misuse such drugs and rehabilitate a few cases for all others to aspire to get out of such menace of drugs. The supply lines need to be choked. The judiciary too can play a vital role in expediting drug cases and punish the guilty in a stringent manner.

RS SEMBHI

Take help of NGOs

In Punjab, the problem of drug addiction is a very serious problem as our young generation is involved in it. One hand we rarely lose our youngsters and on the other hand parents are sending their wards in other countries due to this fear. To overcome the problem of drug addiction, the government must take the help of some NGOs and must award those organisations which are working to limit this drug addiction and spreading awareness among youngsters. At village and ward level the government must form committees to identify drug addicts and send them to de-addiction centres. The government must organise more job meals and give loans to youngsters to start small businesses. In schools, colleges and universities there must be a chapter on the bad or ill effects of drug addictions so that kids and youngsters must be able to know the bad effects of drugs and intoxicants. The police and other government officials must raid on the areas where the possibility of trade of drugs is carried out.

Farzana Khan

Urge drug addicts to join rehabilitation centres

Drug abuse one of the most troublesome issues of our society. Many promises have also been made on several occasions to resolve it, but the problem remains the same. The nexus of drugs works at various levels. Hence, in order to free society from ruinous effects of drugs, different departments need to work in tandem by taking drastic measures. To begin with, they should cut the supply chain of drugs. Then, they should arrest the people synchronising the drug nexus taking no notice of their influence or status. They should also coordinate with various NGOs working to stimulate drug addicts to join rehabilitation centres. For an effective change, the authorities should comprehend and acknowledge the factors responsible for drug consumption.

Rishika Kriti

Establish de-addiction centres in city

To making drug free society, the first step should be that our elders shall be far away from drugs such as heroin, LSD, morphine, mescaline, psilocybin etc., because the children would get habits from their parents. The second step should be for drug free society that the drug abuse chapter would added as compulsory subject to the school education so that children learned the detrimental effects of drugs at younger age. The third step should be that parents or elders must guide and aware their children about drug addiction. There should be de-addiction centre in each city. If we should follow all of the above mentioned steps, definitely illegal drug trafficking and drug addiction can be abolished properly.

Adish Sood

Ensure independence of Police Department

Consumption and illegal trading of drugs is being openly done in the city. Every time, during election, political parties promise to eradicate the menace but nothing has been done so far. It is even noted that political parties and even police authorities despite knowing each and every detail are doing nothing to save the youth and society from the clutches of this menace. The problem can easily be curbed if government and police authorities discharge their duties with due diligence and care. Political parties should stop interfering in the working of the Police Department. Even we should come forward and report the matters which come in our knowledge.

Ritu Priya

Create job opportunities for youngsters

The problem of drug addiction in Punjab is aggravating day by day. There is not a single village and city of the state Punjab which is free from drug menace. Irrespective of so many efforts of the government and different NGOs this problem has not faded away from society. In schools and colleges so many young boys and girls are in the grip of drug addiction. Parents should teach their children about the bad effects of intoxicants and other harmful drugs. The government should promote games and other recreational activities to involve youth in villages. Create more job opportunities for youth to involve them to earn. There must be one lecture daily in schools and colleges about the ill-effect of drug addiction. There must be exemplary punishment for those who are involved in the business of drugs.

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Social media influencers should spread awareness

Many steps can be taken to free the society from drugs. The foremost step should be permanent ban on under the counter selling of drugs. The laws on drugs should be made more stringent and penalties should be made more severe.

Social media influencers should spread awareness about drug-abuse. Our government should learn from other countries about the strict laws against possession of drugs. The children, right from the beginning of their school life should be made well aware of the complication of drug abuse. Parents in a companionable way should tell their little ones about drug abuse. Proper checking of the vehicles should be done near the borders. More and more NGOs should come forward and start campaigns against drugs.

Ekamjot Singh

Hold counselling session for addicts

There is a saying that an idle mind is a devil’s workshop. When after getting first class degrees also, the youth are not able to get good jobs to fulfil their dreams and aspirations, it is obvious that they will go off the track. So, first of all the youth should be given jobs according to their calibre. The youth who are already a prey to drugs should be guided and counselled by trained counsellors. The rehabilitation centres for drug addicts need to come up with concrete plan on how to tackle the menace. The government needs to be strict against the suppliers and drug peddlers. Only the collaborative efforts of the general public, government and the victims themselves can bring these addicts to the mainstream.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

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