Educate youth about harms of substance abuse, says DC

To realise the vision of a drug-free society, it is essential to raise awareness and sensitise all sections of society, especially the youth, about the harmful effects of substance abuse, said Chamba Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal on Wednesday.

He was presiding over a meeting, organised by the Police Department, to discuss measures to control drug menace in the district. The Deputy Commissioner said efforts should be made to educate the youth through various awareness programmes in major educational institutions of the district.

He expressed concern over the increasing trend of drug use in society, which poses a serious threat to the future of the nation. He emphasised that collaborative efforts from various government departments and all sections of society could help reduce this issue.

He highlighted that awareness is a vital tool in this regard. Additionally, those addicted to drugs can be rehabilitated through proper medical treatment, enabling them to lead a normal life.

He highlighted the need for special efforts to educate the youth about the harmful effects of drug abuse in educational institutions across the district, including Banikhet and Dalhousie.

Repaswal said steps will be taken to select suitable land for establishing drug rehabilitation centres in the areas around Dalhousie and Banikhet. These centres will help individuals struggling with addiction return to normal life, he added.

He also noted that tobacco companies were prohibited from directly or indirectly advertising tobacco products. First-time offenders face a fine of Rs 1,000 or upto two years of imprisonment, or both, while habitual offenders may be fined

Rs 5,000 or imprisoned for upto five years, or both.

Repaswal instructed departmental officials to take strict action to curb the use of cigarettes and tobacco products in public places. Additionally, tough measures should be taken against vendors selling loose cigarettes and tobacco products. Earlier, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav shared vital data about supply and consumption of narcotic drugs in the district.

Additional District Magistrate Amit Mehra, Bharmour SDM Kulbir Singh Rana, Salooni SDM Naveen Kumar, Dalhousie SDM Anil Bhardwaj, Chief Medical Officer Dr Bipin Thakur, Deputy Superintendent of Police Jitender Kumar, Dalhousie Deputy Superintendent of Police Hemant Kumar Thakur, Primary Education Department OSD Uma Kant and others were present during the meeting.