Major plans of project ‘Clean Campus, Safe Campus’ only partially met
Alcohol and substance abuse is mainly responsible for numerous psychological, physical and social dysfunction, particularly among the youth and adolescents. (Photo: DC/File)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When the State Government launched one of its prestigious campaigns named ‘Clean Campus, Safe Campus’ early in June this year, the major recommendations made out in the master plan on substance abuse prevention and control by the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) – India has only been partially met, and that too, by just 10 percent. The campaign is currently being jointly undertaken by the Home and Education departments in enforcing the ban on sale of drugs and tobacco products near the premises of educational institutions.
Alcohol and substance abuse is mainly responsible for numerous psychological, physical and social dysfunction, particularly among the youth and adolescents. Incidences of peer pressure, resilient nature at school, college, home and society, sexual assault, unsafe sex, crimes, attempt to commit suicide have been seen as causes triggering substance abuse and consumption of liquor among the youth.
According to Johnson J. Edayaranmula, director of ADIC-India, the authorities are not really concerned about the dimension, trends and patterns of underage drinking and substance abuse. Edayaranmula, who has been in the field for the last three decades and has shied away from joining hands with the ‘Clean Campus, Safe Campus’ campaign, has always wondered why society has not taken the issue of substance abuse with the due attention it deserves.
“The Government’s current campaign is just an eyewash. They never bothered to appoint a high powered committee to study the real dimension of the issue. In 2009, I had recommended that the Drugs Control Department should be given the authority to take action as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as out of 234 different types of narcotic drugs, only eight of them in the genre of heroin, cannabis , cocaine etc are not available over the counter”, said Edayaranmula to DC.
He also finds faults with the media, especially television channels for showing the name of the narcotic drugs which are available over the counter making the campaign run by Government and other agencies counterproductive. Most of the youngsters start drinking alcohol just for fun initially and then fall in to drugs and tobacco. Teen counselor Kala Shibu, who is based in Kollam and works for the Social Justice department, opines that there has been an upward trend among teenagers including girls who have been using drugs.
“We have been reporting several instances of drug abuse among teenagers. Unfortunately there has not been timely help from the Government. There are drug peddlers who supply drugs to students effortlessly, of girls getting it from their boyfriends who are studying in high end private schools”, said Kala Shibu who had recently come out with a book, “My counseling experience”.
Dr. Anju Mathew, assistant professor of psychiatry at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, cites a plethora of issues for the rise in the upwardly trend among drug abusers.
“Like adults, adolescents also go into a depression. When they are feeling low, they want to go on a high and the most dangerous aspect is when they get in to bad company. The moment parents see a sudden change in behaviour in their children, they should take timely action”, said Dr. Anju Mathew.
Father George Mathew Karoor, principal of Sarvodaya School, recalls that there were instances of students reporting to him about strangers, coming by KSRTC buses, giving them sleazy books and after a few days gap, the child is given pan masala for a price.
“We have started checking students school bags randomly and also look at toilets where pan masalas are stashed. Also with the Government ban on this stuff, there has been a decline in such products being used”, said Father Karoor who bagged the national award for the best teacher.
( Source : dc )
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