A series of drug prevention programmes have been initiated to take into account the rising cases
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Delhi government has started organising prevention programmes on drug and substance abuse. Starting from Seemapuri in Delhi, the government will conduct awareness programme in various parts of the capital. Officials from health department and education department will be roped in for the programme.
"The idea is to spread awareness about drug abuse among the general public. A proper plan has been laid down and areas have been identified where such programmes will be organised," a senior Delhi government official said.
In a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary MM Kutty in February, the government had made a roadmap to ensure Delhi doesn't go the Punjab way, sources told DNA. "This is for the first time that an Intersectoral Co-ordination Committee has been formed for the comprehensive response for drug abuse, prevention and de-addiction centres in the capital. The role of the committee will be to ensure that all decisions taken in such meetings are implemented," said a senior Delhi government official.
Currently, according to a study by AIIMS in coordination with Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry, approximately 70,000 street children in the capital indulge in substance abuse. And recent trends analysed by agencies suggest that the capital which has 62.3 lakh children, between the ages of 0-19 years, has been witnessing a rise in the cases of drug abuse in last few years.
According to a presentation, accessed by DNA, that took place on February 22, a total number of 30 beds in six government hospitals have been exclusively earmarked for juvenile drug addicts in GB Pant, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Lal Bahadur Shastri Madan Mohan Malviya, Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IBHAS) hospitals.
The Aam Aadmi Party, on February 26, had launched a campaign against drugs in Punjab and deployed its activists across the state to collect data on drug victims and de-addiction centres. A small survey conducted by the School Health Scheme of the Directorate General of Health Services in government schools has "alarmed" the Directorate of Education in Delhi. Conducted in just 39 schools over April-August this year, the survey says there are 16 students suffering from substance abuse. In some schools, the number of abusers is over a quarter of the children surveyed; in a few, over a half.
Analysis
Drug prevention programs are the need of the hour as recent trends analysed by agencies suggest the Capital, which has 62.3 lakh children, between the ages of 0-19 years, has been witnessing a rise in cases of drug abuse.
The Delhi Govt which has been heavily criticised for doing little has recently launched a series of programmes post the MCD poll debacle. Drugs are a pressing issue and the AAP Govt has been criticised for launching it in Punjab first.
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