Mangalore, Mar 14: Concerns were raised on the increasing number of youth falling prey to drug menace in small cities, at the inauguration of a workshop on 'Technology to combat drug menace' organised by the Department of Criminology and Forensic Science at School of Social Work here on Thursday.
Delivering the keynote address on the occasion, Additional Director General of Police (Crime and Technical Services) of Karnataka A M Prasad said that while some drugs like ganja (cannabis) were grown and prepared locally, lot of drug substances today come to the country from various routes like the land border, sea route and the airport.
“The Customs department pointed out that the arrival seizure is much less than seizure during departure at the airports and sea ports, implying that we (the country) are serving as a transit route for the drugs that come to India, which is an unhealthy development. More than consumption, we are engaged in trading of drugs and that requires a greater vigil at every entry and exit point in our country. Ports must be our major area of concern, and we need highly sophisticated equipment in most airports and sea ports to detect drugs. We also have to work to upgrade capacity and creation of capacities in the police department in our endeavour to control the menace,” he said, stressing that unless technology was used, drug menace could not be controlled.
He further stressed that drugs could be detected only when there was knowledge of the variety of drugs in use today.
“There is no one-time solution for this menace. Young girls and boys need to be repeatedly made aware of this problem, as it can affect anyone,” he advised, adding that drug menace was one of the major areas of concern, and that there was a need to sensitise the police department regarding the issue.
Speaking on role of organisations in curbing the addiction, he said that law enforcers could be blamed only for not detecting the drugs and conducting investigation, but affected drug users themselves are often reluctant to come out of the habit. Educational institutions and bodies like Alcoholic Anonymous play a major role and often act as a bridge between drug addicts and people who enforce or control. They have to give the vital information to law enforcing agencies regarding the source of the drug supply and how the addiction began, which can be done only through anonymity, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Superintendent of Police (DK) Abhishek Goyal said that the menace of drugs was one of the bigger issues affecting the root of our next generation. “To curb the menace, we have to focus on managerial aspects, which are much more important. Parents and educational institutions have a great role to play and watch out for indicators that something is wrong,” he said, adding that drug addiction was always related to petty crimes.
“Drug addiction starts from peer pressure. The probability of people addicted to smoking and drinking, of getting into drugs is more,” he said.
Former Principal of Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work Dr Jacintha D'Souza delivered the presidential address.
A newsletter 'Crime And You' was released on the occasion by ADGP Prasad.
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