Pune cops, NGOs team up to fight drugs

Pune: The anti-narcotics cell along with city-based NGO Muktangan and citizens' groups, such as Vimannagar Residents' Association (VNRA), launched a month-long anti-drug drive from June 26, the International Day Against Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse. The organizers aim to reach out to schools, colleges, and parents to counter the drug menace in the city.
Officials from the city police's narcotics cell as well as representatives of NGOs affirmed that, increasingly, youths are forming the majority of drug users identified in Pune region. The experts added that peer-to-peer discussion can be a way out of the situation.
"Young people, especially school and college students, are increasingly getting attracted to drugs. In fact, most people who seek our help are young.," said Mukta Puntambekar, director of Muktangan.
Police officials added that addicts, generally considered to be "youths flush with pocket money", can literally go to any lengths for their fix. "When addicts cannot get drugs in this city, they go to Mumbai, which is very easy to do," said Pratibha Joshi, senior police inspector of the Anti-Narcotics Cell.