Anti-drug sports fair in Kullu

To deal with the drug menace in Kullu district, the police will organise anti-drug sports fair at the block level to make people aware of its ill-effects. The first event will be organised at Naggar, while second event will be at Patlikuhl on August 23.

Kullu district, famous for its panoramic view, has become notorious for the drug trade where cannabis and opium are cultivated.
The police will invite national level players to encourage the youths about importance of sports in life and ask them to avoid drugs.The motive was to encourage youths to sports and shun bad habits of drug intake.

Current Scenario in Himachal Pradesh :

About 27 per cent youth in Himachal Pradesh are involved in drug abuse. Himachal Pradesh, like neighbouring Punjab, is facing a deadly menace of drugs and narcotics. In just three months, 274 narcotic-related cases were registered and 320 people were arrested according to police record. 230 kg charas was seized from drug peddlers this year. The police have sensitised over 600,000 people on the ill effects of drugs.steps should be initiated to completely eradicate the drug menace. The Chief Minister favoured tough penalties against those involved in the drug trade.

Director General of Police S.R. Mardi said the police was committed to make the state drug free and for this, a special campaign has been launched. . Drug abuse is a social vice which needs to be curbed with people's participation

Drug Menace :

Drug abuse and the drug menace is the illicit, non- medical use of limited number of substance, most of drugs which have the properties of altering the mental state of a being in ways that are considered by social norms and defined by statute to be inappropriate, undesirable, harmful threatening to the life of the user and to the society at large. Alcohol, heroin, cocaine, opium, marijuana, are some of the drugs abused.

Reason of Drug Abuse :

1.The youth of today are very inquisitive and curious. They would like to test the efficacy of whatever they see and hear of. This curiosity at times becomes fatal even to the point of death. Some by their curiosity go in to deal with drugs and become addicts.
2. In attempts to find income and to survive the changing trends in the economy, the youth indulge in drug trafficking, abuse and peddling with drugs in the name of employment. Today, a lot of the youth are involved in this drug trade. Poverty therefore becomes a prime cause for this drug menace coupled with the negative attitude of the youth. This attitude is the “make money quick”. The youth today has this idiom, “get rich early or die trying”.
3. Stress, anxiety, low confidence, parental and peer pressure are also some of reasons to intake drugs to escape from challenging situation.

Way Forward :

Children in schools around the state have been encouraged to participate in the drug education, “say no drugs, say yes to life” program. The government seems to do this education. The private investors and other cooperate bodies to get involved in this drug education so as to have a nation free of drugs.

Families and other agencies that associated in the up bringing of the child should also counsel the children on the dangers associated with drugs. Identifying causes should be known by the child so as to draw their attention whenever they go wayward and to retrace their steps.

The addicts who think all is lost for their life should be encouraged, motivated and given hope and support so as to help them start anew.

In a nutshell, drug is dangerous and leads to a total destruction of the wellbeing. Therefore, concerted effort by all should be put in place to stop this menace so as to have a world free of drugs.

By: Pooja Sharda