PATNA: The rampant cultivation of opium (poppy seeds) in some villages in naxal-affected Gaya district and near the Indo-Bangladesh border in Kishanganj district of Bihar has baffled the state administration. Interestingly, residents of Simalbari village under Kishanganj district were equally surprised to know that the new crop being grown in their village was opium and its cultivation was an offense liable for prosecution under the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (NDPS) act. According to reports reaching the state police headquarters here, the district magistrate and SP of Gaya raided three naxal-affected villages in Mohanpur block on a tip-off that opium was being grown by some farmers there. The officials found that opium was illegally grown in these villages, although on a small scale. They estimated the total area under illegal cultivation to be around 1.5 acres. The identity of the actual land owners or those growing the illegal crop could not be ascertained as all the male members had absconded from the villages after seeing the posse of armed police forces. [continues 203 words]
MUMBAI: In a rare ruling, a special narcotics court in Mumbai on Wednesday sent a resident of Kashmir convicted for drug trafficking to the gallows. Ghulam Malik was found guilty in two different cases for dealing in narcotics. And under stringent provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, a second conviction is punishable only with a mandatory death sentence. Judge P B Sawant, who sentenced Malik to death, turned emotional after the sentencing and said, "In my 29 years in the profession and past ten years as a judicial officer I had given no capital punishment, but duty is duty and today I have performed it." However, a legal expert said the order may be questioned in the context of the NDPS Act which essentially raises the penalty if a man is caught dealing in drugs a second time round. [continues 278 words]
Kokrajhar -- Feb. 5: Hundreds of women and schoolchildren from different parts of Kokrajhar town participated in a rally on drug and alcohol abuse today. Carrying placards and shouting slogans on the ill effects of substance abuse, they marched through the streets of Kokrajhar. The rally was held at the basic training centre, Kokrajhar, and was organised by the excise department in association with All Bodo Women Welfare Association and Discovery Club. A debate was held later followed by a discussion on the issue. [continues 188 words]
In a possible indication of slackening of action in drug-related cases, there has been a considerable decline in the number of cases registered under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in the city. As against 74 cases recorded under the NDPS Act in 2006, only 54 were registered in 2007. The number of cases registered in the year gone by is the least in the last three years as 56 cases were registered in the year 2005. Sources say that a combination of manpower problem at crime branch's NDPS cell, which deals with drug-related cases, and overburdened police stations has resulted in a 'lack of attention' towards these cases. Opined assistant commissioner of police Anil Bobade: "Heavy engagements in regular duties like bandobast and anti-crime action along with maintaining of law and order situation are some reasons for less cases under NDPS act registered with the help of the local police station teams." [continues 452 words]
New Delhi (PTI): Slamming law-enforcement agencies for making "no serious effort" against drug trafficking, a court here has directed them to go after the "big fish" involved in the crime, and not just the "small fry". Besides, it also sought a "transparent system" for the destruction of seized narcotics to prevent them from falling in wrong hands. "It appears that in some cases, the actual source - which is a big fish - is being let off and in its place, a person - who is only a small fry - is implicated," Rakesh Kapoor, the designated judge for NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act cases, said in a recent order. [continues 74 words]
Panaji, Jan 29 Authorities should recognise that many offenders who violate drug laws, and drug offenders who commit other criminal acts, commit their crimes because they are themselves addicted to drugs. Authorities should find that treating offenders for their addictions is more effective and economical than punishing them through the criminal justice system. In short, drug use should be decriminalised and treated more as a health issue.This is one of the major points for discussion that arose out of a study of "The Situation and Experience of Drug Users in Custodial settings in Asia." This "snapshot" study is an initiative of a Delhi-based NGO Sharan and the Indian Harm Reduction Network (IHRN). The report was presented at the first Asian Consultation on the Prevention of HIV related to Drug Use, now underway at the Kala Academy, Panaji. The broad aim of this report is to contribute to the mobilisation of public awareness on the health and human righ! ts issues affecting drug users in general but particularly in custodial settings in Asia. [continues 311 words]
Cannabis cultivation continues to flourish on a massive scale at Chendipada and its adjoining areas in the district despite destruction of plantations each year by the excise authorities. The reason is that the kingpin behind the racket has remained elusive so far. The authorities ended their drive after destroying the plantations and registering cases against some of the local villagers in this connection. What is appalling is that authorities despite conduct raids in each year are yet to establish the identity of the main culprits though they admit their existence. [continues 193 words]
Centres For De-Addiction And Rehab In Short Supply Srinagar, Jan 06: (KONS) Over the past several years, vested interests have been promoting narcotic drugs in the valley on a large scale, and hundreds of people, particularly the younger generation, have fallen prey to the menace. Alarmingly, school children are being drawn into the web. It appears as if the youth of Kashmir are being destroyed under a conspiracy. The past decade-and-a-half of turmoil changed the complexion of the social set-up here, and agencies from outside the state also appear to be active in propping up the drug trade. [continues 462 words]
The administration has handpicked an NGO to complete a task that police started but found difficult to wrap up -- stamp out the menace of drug trafficking and abuse in this Upper Assam town for good. Pressured by the media and various organisations, the police had embarked on a mission to "finish off" the drug cartel active and even made a series of arrests, only to realise that the law was not enough to keep the guilty people shackled. "Arrested peddlers and addicts come out of jail and regroup in no time. They also change their modus operandi," a police officer said. [continues 410 words]
Students Declare War on Bandh, Drugs, Ragging & Private Tuition Students of Guwahati's 10 leading colleges today resolved to put up a joint fight against bandh culture, ragging, private tuition and drug abuse. A resolution to this effect was taken at a meeting organised by the Assam unit of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) at Sudmerson Hall of Cotton College this afternoon. The NSUI, the students' wing of the Congress, also felicitated the office-bearers of the students' unions of the colleges. [continues 316 words]
Imphal, Dec. 23: Revellers in Manipur will celebrate this Christmas and New Year's eve without booze or drugs, if an NGO leading the fight against substance abuse has its way. Merrymaking with drugs and alcohol is very much a part of the festivities. But this will soon be a thing of the past. All Manipur Anti-Drug Association, an NGO fighting against drug abuse and alcoholism, today announced that it would not allow revellers to get intoxicated during the celebrations. "We have constituted a special task force to check drug abuse and drinking," the deputy secretary of the anti-abuse committee, T. Tembi Leima, said. [continues 227 words]
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, is a draconian law because it places the state in the capacity of a moral guardian vis-a-vis the citizen. The recent uproar over former Union minister Jaswant Singh serving an opium-based drink, riyan, points to the draconian nature of the NDPS Act. Singh could get a 10-year jail term if the serving of the drink is established. The restrictions imposed on grant of bail under NDPS Act amount to virtual denial and ensure years of incarceration. Section 37(1) declares that an accused person is not to be released on bail unless the court has reasonable grounds to believe that the accused is not guilty and is not likely to commit an offence while on bail. This provision is identical to provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and Prevention of Terrorism Act which resulted in long periods of imprisonment without trial, evoking strong criticism from the human rights movement. [continues 532 words]
The government may soon award licences to Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Emmellen Biotech for setting up two factories for opium processing, sources close to the development told SundayET. The finance ministry, which has selected these two pharma companies out of 16 short-listed entities, may issue the final order anytime soon. This is the first time the government will allow private players to undertake opium business. The processing of opium is essential to produce codeine phosphate, morphine and other alkaloids, which are needed for manufacturing drugs. [continues 253 words]
Chandigarh, December 2 The properties, assets and bank accounts of all the narcotics smugglers and drug-traffickers that have been convicted or detained under the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, are going to be 'forfeited'. In wake of the increasing incidents of narcotics smuggling in the northern region, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), under the provisions of NDPS Act, is going to initiate the move shortly, for which the steps have already been initiated. The Chandigarh Zonal unit of the NCB has started preparing a database of all those persons who have been caught under the Act. "There had been specific intelligence inputs about certain persons, who have amassed huge wealth by merely smuggling narcotics from one state to another and even out of the country. Such smugglers are investing the money earned from drug trafficking into property, land-deals, bonds, shares and a few have dumped the same in their bank accounts. We have started preparing the database of all such bank-accounts and properties, which shall be forfeited and scrutinised," informed Saji Mohar, Director, Narcotics Control Bureau. [continues 163 words]
PARALAKHEMUNDI - Acting on the order of the district collector, Mr DV Swamy, the excise department staff, along with support of the police launched a massive drive to destroy cannabis plantations in the Mohona block of Gajapati. The drive has been successful and the police and the excise department have managed to destroy 58,800 plants of various sizes, the cost of which is stated to be around Rs 1.5 crore in the market. According to the excise department sources, the raids were conducted from early morning and it took more than eight labourers to cut down the cannabis, trees most of them in the full grown stage. [continues 184 words]
AHMEDABAD: Unlike their classmates, Amit, Nirav, Robin, Jignesh, think it is a waste of time studying for a nine-to-five job. They have already found a way of making quick bucks - drug peddling. They deliver drugs as casually as pizza delivery men, seeing it as a business opportunity rather than crime. These youngsters from fairly affluent backgrounds have replaced the shady characters who accost you in dark alleys whispering "hash" and "marihuana". Alarmingly, drugs like LSD, ecstasy, cocaine, brown sugar, heroine, grass, are just a mobile call away. And those delivering them are none other than collegians. Whether it is the imposing lawn of a classy hotel or a farmhouse party, they promise a free delivery at your point. [continues 251 words]
AHMEDABAD: Parents, beware! Your dear little angel could well be tripping on a dangerous high. For, ecstacy and brown sugar are the new fads on the block on city's school circuit. Drug de-addiction centres in Ahmedabad are witnessing an alarming trend of children from elite schools trooping in to kick the evil habit. If you thought that kids are hooked only to abusive substances like 'gutkha' or cigarettes, here's the latest news: the addictions being treated for involve old scourges like brown sugar and new-age fads like Ecstasy. [continues 242 words]
NEW DELHI - The United Nations has drawn attention of world leaders to an alarming increase in opium production in Afghanistan which has gone up by 34% to 8,200 tonnes this year in comparison to 2006. The illicit trade, estimated at $4 billion, is half the GDP of Afghanistan. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has suggested governments to include major drug traffickers under the same list which has the Taliban and Al-Qaida. "The world community should add a dozen such traffickers names to the Security Council list, in order to ban their travel, seize their assets and facilitate their extradition," the UNODC said. [continues 254 words]
Srinagar - Government has failed to check the rampant drug abuse among the youth in Valley and if tangible measures are not taken to root out the menace, it will not only consume the younger generation but engulf the whole society. This was crux of presentations made by a group of doctors, journalists, lawyers and others during a seminar organized by Khyber Medical Institute on Drug abuse here on Tuesday. In his threadbare presentation on Drug Abuse in Kashmir in Current Scenario, Dr Arshad Hussain consultant Department of Psychiatry Government Medical College said that drug abuse among youth in Kashmir has turned into an epidemic. [continues 884 words]
JAIPUR: The raging controversy over guests consuming "opium", as part of hospitality, at a function organised by senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh at his ancestral village in Barmer district of Rajasthan on Wednesday has taken a new turn with a local citizen filing a complaint under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the Special Court in Jodhpur on Friday. Ten persons, including Mr. Jaswant Singh and three senior members of the Rajasthan Cabinet, are named in the complaint. [continues 323 words]
JAIPUR: A stickler for Marwar traditions, former Union minister Jaswant Singh allegedly served opium-laced coloured milk from his cupped palm to his guests who trooped in for lunch at his ancestral house on October 31. He told the media that while it was tradition to serve opium at certain functions, this had not been the case on Wednesday. He said that guests had consumed a "mix of gangajal, kesar, jaggery and tea". While family and village functions traditionally do see opium being served, this meet at Jasol was a muted one, he added. [continues 134 words]
For some in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, the day starts not with a hot cuppa but with a bhang-laced drink made from cannabis. At six in the morning, people begin slowly trooping into government-run bhang shops in the district for the drink, made from the leaves of cannabis that grows wild in many parts of northern India. Bhang ki thandai is the favourite drink followed by bhang ki goli (small bhang balls). The crowds, including from other parts of the state, continue till late in the night till it is time to shut shop. [continues 362 words]
It is alleged that opium was served at a function he organised on October 31 JODHPUR: A special court here on Saturday reserved its verdict whether investigation should be conducted into a complaint filed against senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh that opium was allegedly served at a function he had organised on Wednesday. Initial hearing The court concluded the initial hearing of the application and put the matter for decision whether the case was fit for investigation under section 156/3 of the Cr.PC or not after hearing the arguments of the counsel for the complainant. [continues 255 words]
Present Norm Is "Impractical" And Adversely Affects Farmers JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has requested the Centre to review its opium policy to bring about uniformity in the country, saying its present form was "impractical" and adversely affected the farmers. In a statement here on Monday, Ms. Raje said different yardsticks for giving opium licence to farmers in different States were unreasonable and resulted in discrimination against certain States. She pointed out that the eligibility for getting licence in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh was the opium production of 56 kg per hectare, whereas it was only 49 kg per hectare in Uttar Pradesh. [continues 214 words]
TRIVANDRUM, India -- It was a neighbor screaming in pain 35 years ago that set Dr. M. R. Rajagopal on the path to his nickname: India's "father of palliative care." "He was dying of cancer, with lots of tumors on his face and scalp," Dr. Rajagopal recalled. "His family asked if I could help, and I couldn't -- I was just a medical student." Today, the same neighbor with the same cancer would almost certainly die the same way -- unless he lived in tiny Kerala State, where Dr. Rajagopal runs his Pallium India clinic here in the capital. Although opium was one of the chief exports of British India and the country still produces more for the legal morphine industry than any other country, few Indians benefit. They end up like millions of the world's poor -- spending their last days writhing in agony, wishing death would hurry. [continues 1679 words]
Kohima, June 26: Nagaland Governor K. Sankaranaraya-nan sounded a note of caution for the state for its proximity to the Golden Triangle -- the hub of illegal opium production -- comprising Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. Speaking at a function to commemorate International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the State Academy Hall here, the governor said, "Youngsters today are more vulnerable to drugs with changes in traditional tribal society. Non-governmental organisations should generate greater awareness and fight against drug use. While cure is important, prevention remains the key." [continues 229 words]
Kolkata: "Drug abuse amounts to violation of the basic human right of living with dignity," Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen, Chairperson, West Bengal Human Rights Commission, has said. He was speaking at a seminar organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau here to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Border areas vulnerable "As the international border areas remain more vulnerable to trafficking, the problem needs to be tackled at an international level," he said. Describing drug abuse as a security concern that was destroying society as a whole, Mr. Sen called for a wider campaign to save the youth from the menace. "But it is not the duty of school students but the Government departments to carry them out, for which they must be provided proper infrastructural facilities," he added. Major transit point M.K. Singh, the former Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau, said that India's geographical location between the Golden Crescent on the west and the Golden Triangle in the east made the country a major transit point in the smuggling of drugs. [end]
Chennai: On Tuesday, the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, girl students said no to drugs, signing up on a white board at Ewart's Girls Higher Secondary School in Purasawalkam. The board carried the slogan, 'Say no to drugs.' An exhibition of various substances commonly abused was put up at the school premises by the Narcotics Intelligence Bureau-Criminal Investigation Department. About 2,000 students from Ewart's, Bains, Seventh Day and Alagappa Schools participated in a rally and formed a human chain. The children walked from Ewart's School through Poonamallee High Road and reached Alagappa School. [continues 269 words]
- --- NEW DELHI: About 200 million people around the world consume drugs each year, with cocaine, opium and its derivatives - including heroin - topping the list of favourites, a United Nations report said on Tuesday. "Though a large share of the world's population - about five per cent of the people between the ages of 15 and 64 - uses illicit drugs each year, only a small fraction of these can be considered 'problem drug users'," the report issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said. [continues 435 words]
An Indian court has ordered police to look into claims that an alleged drug kingpin from Surrey, B.C. is now supplying dope to inmates at Delhi's Tihar jail -- Asia's largest prison complex. Gurdish Toor, 29, was arrested in Delhi last August in connection with the seizure of 100 kilograms of ephedrine worth C$24 million dollars that was destined for the North American markets. Police also seized three kg of hashish worth 100 million rupees (about C$2.4 million) concealed in a consignment of paintings headed for Canada and about 600 kg of white powdery drugs which have been sent for analysis. [continues 856 words]
"Respected people of Helmand," the radio message began, "The soldiers of the International Security Assistance Force and the Afghan National Army do not destroy poppy fields. They know that many people of Afghanistan have no choice but to grow poppy. ISAF and the ANA do not want to stop people from earning their livelihoods." It was such a sensible message that it almost had to be a mistake, and of course it was. The message, written by an ISAF officer and broadcast in Helmand province, last week, on two local radio stations, was immediately condemned by Afghan and American officials, including President Hamid Karzai. So does that mean that ISAF really is going to destroy the farmers' poppy fields? [continues 528 words]
KOLKATA -- The Union government will extend its support to the "harm reduction" measures endorsed by the World Health Organisation and the UNAIDS to minimise the spread of HIV among Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), though these measures are not supported by the existing laws of the country. Over the last two decades, Saarc countries have witnessed an increase in HIV cases among IDUs. To stem the epidemic, several countries in the region have introduced measures like oral substitution programmes for IDUs. The positive outcomes of such harm reduction measures are endorsed by the WHO and the UNAIDS. However, these interventions are sometimes challenged as they do not fall within the bounds of the existing narcotics and penal laws of the country. [continues 170 words]
To Stem Incidence Among Injecting Drug Users "HIV epidemic getting increasingly feminised" KOLKATA: To stem the increasing incidence of HIV among injecting drug users (IDUs) in South Asia, the legal framework in the respective countries has to accommodate the provisions of harm reduction, says a United Nations-commissioned report. Providing clean needles and syringes to drug users, condoms to prisoners and sex workers and drug substitution treatment are often seen as abetting in drug consumption, amounting to violation of law and thus attracting prosecution. [continues 189 words]
KOLKATA: Jamtala is the official name as per municipal and panchayat records for this remote village along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Bongaon, in North 24 Pargana district of West Bengal. But the official name has no recall among locals here. It has been christened "Heroin er Haat" (Heroin Mart) and this is what even locals prefer to call their village. So much so that local bus operators are heard shouting, "Heroin er Haat stop" (Heroin Mart stop) for the benefit of passengers who alight here. The story of the name change reflects Jamtala's emergence as a hub of narcotic trade. [continues 280 words]
PANJIM - Senior Advisor on Substance Abuse Policy, USA, Beverly Davis, addressed address the students of St Xavier's College on "Substance Abuse" as a special guest recently. Beverly Davis provided a very elaborate view on substance abuse and enlightened the gathering on recent research conducted by the center, along with statistics, in a very illustrative way, and revealed that only a very small percentage of young Americans do not take drugs. She highlighted that India today stands where America was many years ago and emphasized the role of youngsters in combating this menace. She further delved into the consequences of drug abuse such as absenteeism, crime rate, accident rate and so on. [continues 149 words]
Last year, a few dedicated youths of Imphal formed the All-Manipur Anti-Drug Association aiming to root out the menace of alcoholism and drug abuse in the state. A year down the line, the association has effectively launched its campaign in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishenpur. The year-old association celebrated its foundation day with a function here today. The campaign launched by the association garnered popular support from Assam Rifles as well as the army units, with troops handing over seized country liquor to the members for destruction. [continues 300 words]
The archbishop of Bangalore does not think the city's legions of call centre workers are going straight to hell. But he, like many in conservative India, is worried that the young men and women working the phones at night may be engaging in unsaintly bouts of sex and drug-taking. While Westerners may vilify India's call centre workers for stealing their jobs, conservatives at home worry the young employees -- who mostly work overnight and earn far more than earlier generations -- are helping themselves to an alien set of Western values. [continues 704 words]
The Mumbai police's Anti-Narcotics Cell raided a rave party at Gorai, in the early hours of Sunday. The team rounded up more than 90 revellers present. Of them, 13 who were found in possession of drugs, were on Monday remanded in police custody till September 29. In an interview, former encounter specialist sub-inspector Kedar Pawar, who got the tip-off that led to the raid, spoke about how the crackdown took place. The slightly-balding 6-foot-tall inspector, who is in his late-30s, spent over five hours at the party with a woman colleague to observe the goings-on so that they could nail the offenders later in court. [continues 487 words]
Indian police say they have smashed an international criminal syndicate with the arrest of a Surrey man and the seizure of 100 kilograms of ephedrine worth $24 million dollars that was destined for the Canada and U.S. markets. They also seized three kg of hashish worth 100 million rupees (about C$2.4 million) concealed in a consignment of paintings headed for an undisclosed location in Canada and about 600 kg of white powdery drugs which have been sent for analysis. [continues 970 words]
Shipment Was For Canada Or California: Reports NEW DELHI - A Canadian man was arrested with US$5-million worth of illegal drugs in the Indian capital on Saturday, in what was billed as a major effort to stop narcotics from being shipped to North America, police said. About 100 kilograms of ephedrine, hashish and other illegal drugs were seized overnight from Girdish Singh Toor, 29, while he was leading a convoy of vehicles in New Delhi, police deputy commissioner Ravindra Yadav said. [continues 340 words]
AIZAWL: In Mizoram, a misplaced belief has robbed HIV-positive people of dignity even in death. AIDS victims here are being buried in polythene bags, apparently to prevent the virus from leaving the corpse in search of a healthy body. Calling the practice a 'disgrace', Mizoram People Living with AIDS Society (MPLAS) president Malsawmdawnga said: "There are instances of people being buried with their bodies wrapped in polythene bags. This is really humiliating." He added that like others, HIV-positive people too want to live and die with dignity, without any discrimination or hatred. According to government figures, Mizoram, a predominantly Christian state, has 1,352 HIV-positive people. Unofficial estimates, however, peg the number at 5,000. [continues 409 words]
ZURICH: Drug addicts in India may soon get their supply of drugs and syringes from the government itself. In a highly controversial decision, the National Aids Control Organisation (Naco) is formulating a Bill that will seek to legalise a national drug substitution and needle exchange programme under which known addicts will be supplied clean syringes and drugs like Methadone and Bupernorphin for intravenous use. According to Naco, while the clean syringes will help reduce the risk of addicts getting infected with HIV through sharing needles, the two less addictive drugs will help them get over hard substances like heroin and cocaine. [continues 571 words]
A BRITISH backpacker who claims she was tricked into smuggling cannabis out of India has been jailed for ten years in a hell-hole prison. Daisy Angus, 26, protested her innocence and sobbed in the dock as she was sentenced. An Israeli man she claimed conned her into carrying a suitcase full of cannabis through Mumbai airport was freed due to lack of evidence. Trainee fitness instructor Daisy has already spent four years in prison in Mumbai while her slow-moving trial proceeded through the Indian legal system. [continues 55 words]
BOURNEMOUTH backpacker Daisy Angus has been sentenced to 10 years in an Indian prison after being found guilty of drug smuggling. Fitness instructor Daisy, 26, protested her innocence and sobbed loudly as she was handed the lengthy jail term by a judge sitting at the Special NDPS Court in Mumbai. She has already spent nearly four years in prison on remand while her slow-moving case was heard and will be freed in six years. Daisy was stopped by customs officers at Mumbai airport on November 8, 2002, as she was about to board a plane to the Netherlands. The image of her luggage during x-ray examination roused suspicion. The bag was examined and customs officers discovered 10kg of cannabis in a false bottom of her suitcase. continued... [continues 275 words]
The global war on drugs seems to have been lost. Over the past 20 years, nearly two million people in the US alone have tested positive for substance abuse. The US continues to be the world's largest consumer of illegal substances. Law enforcement agencies in the West are showing signs of frustration over the method and strategy of deterrent laws. A realisation is seeping in that it may be better to treat rather than punish drug abuse. While legalising narcotics remains a distant dream for young addicts, its easy availability in European and American cities tells its own tale. [continues 749 words]
NEW DELHI: Minister of social justice and empowerment Meira Kumar on Tuesday launched the National Drug Awareness Campaign aimed at preventing drug abuse among young people on the occasion of 'International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking'. Speaking on the occasion, she called for expanding the campaign into a movement involving civil society, government departments, teachers, corporate leaders and NGOs so that "our citizens remain healthy and productive". She said the campaign would target the youth in the age group of 10-18 irrespective of whether they are in or out of school. Stressing the need for directing the campaign towards vulnerable groups like street children and children with disabilities, she said social workers and teachers have a special responsibility. [continues 125 words]
Panaji, June 26: Say 'No' to drugs and live a healthy and happy life was the message carried by the volunteers of the home guards and civil defence organisation during the Cycle rally from Police Headquarters, Panaji to Calangute beach and back to commemorate the "International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking" on Monday.The rally which was organised by the home guard and civil defence organisations this year as well as for the past three years, was flagged off from the Police Headquarters by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr N S Randhawa, deputy commandant general of home guards and deputy director civil defence, Mr Sharad Agarwal, junior staff officer, civil defence and district commandant home guards, Mr Umesh Gaonkar, deputy controller, Mr Francisco Telles, police medical officer, Dr Kalpana Mahatme, civil defence medical officer, Dr Paresh Lawande, civil defence instructor, Mr C K Rane and company commander of home guards, Mr John Aguiar. [continues 173 words]
SEMINARS AND symposia were held to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Drug Trafficking on June 26. Speaking at a seminar held at IMA, IMA president SK Gupta said that the misuse of drugs has now become a big problem for society. People should try and keep others aware of the adverse effects of drug products. Psychiatrist Dr Unnati Kumar talked about the problems regarding the misuse of drugs. Kumar further said that there is alarming growth in drug abuse cases in the last decade. Synthetic drugs like cocaine, sleeping pills are more prevalent than natural drugs like tobacco, liquor. [continues 110 words]
Panaji: "Goa is a transit point for all the drug peddlers and from here drugs like charas, hashish and ganja are being pushed and ecstasy, LSD and cocaine come here from western countries," said the anti-narcotics cell chief, and the deputy superintendent of police, Mr Allan D'Sa. Mr D'Sa informed the gathering about the drugs entering into Goa from areas like Rajasthan and Kulu Manali in the northern belt besides Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal and added that drug peddlers come mostly by train from Delhi and drugs are delivered directly to the coastal belt. [continues 442 words]
Kohima -- Cautioning people about the tremendous cost imposed on the society due to the spread of HV/AIDS in the northeast, Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta today called for adopting a comprehensive strategy to deal with this challenge. Calling on NGOs and Government agencies working to rehabilitate drug addicts and HIV-infected people to share their experience, Dutta said the current National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) strategy followed by northeastern states was not sufficient considering the ground situation. A more comprehensive plan of action was needed as there was a direct co-relation between drug abuse and HIV prevalence in the region, he said. [continues 124 words]
Inside India
