Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jun 2014
Source: Hindu, The (India)
Copyright: 2014 The Hindu
Contact:  http://www.thehindu.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/874

NCB STEPS UP DRUG AWARENESS

In the wake of increasing incidents of drug abuse by youth in the
city, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials are planning to step up
awareness drives among college and school students.

On Wednesday, the National Academy of Customs Excise and Narcotics
(NACEN), which provides training to officials in Customs and drug
laws, roped in NCB and Customs officials to provide an awareness
seminar on drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The lectures were held at Loyola College of Engineering and
Technology, in view of the International Day against Drug Abuse and
Illicit Drug Trafficking to be observed on June 26, and were attended
by students from city colleges.

According to Prem Anand Sinha, zonal director of NCB, India acts as a
transit country for illicit drug trafficking, owing to its proximity
to the ‘golden crescent' -- Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan --
and the golden triangle -- Myanmar, Laos and Thailand -- countries
known for drug production. What is worrying, however, he said, is that
India has also become a consumer of narcotics and psychotropic drugs,
primarily by the youth.

"We aim at reaching out to all schools in the city to spread awareness
on drug abuse. We already worked with 25 to 30 schools between March
and April," he said.

Jacquiline David of Treatment and Rehabilitation of Alcohol and Drug
Addicts (TTK) Hospital stressed on busting myths about alcohol and
drug abuse among the youth in order to prevent addiction. "Addiction
leads to altered family dynamics, impacts finances and leads to
physical and personality deterioration," she said.

Pub culture in the city has resulted in many youth falling prey to
abuse of ganja, ketamine and methamphetamine (street name ecstasy) and
cocaine. S. Ravi Selvan, additional director of NACEN told The Hindu,
"Significant number of children studying at residential schools and
also those who frequent clubs abuse these drugs," he said, adding that
children from affluent backgrounds abuse cocaine, which is more expensive.

N. Ram, chairman of Kasturi and Sons Limited, who was the chief guest,
called for an informed, science-based discussion on reducing the harm
caused by drug abuse, and insisted on invoking stringent measures to
tackle drug trafficking. "Anti-drug clubs in colleges should be more
proactive. Educators need to get together and go on a missionary
spirit in tackling abuse; they should appeal to youngsters'
imagination and present vivid case studies to drive home the point,"
he said.

B. Akshaya, a third-year student of B.Sc. Nutrition at Ethiraj
College, who attended the lectures with seven of her collegemates,
said she signed up for the seminar because she wanted to know more
about drug abuse and its effects. "We do not have much knowledge about
drug abuse and trafficking. This was an eye-opener for us," she said.

S. Ramesh, chief commissioner of Customs, M. Ponnuswamy, additional
director general, NACEN, and M.M. Parthiban, additional director
general, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, also addressed the students.
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