Ranchi, June 25: Community participation is significant in preventing drug abuse among youths.
The remark came from a host of speakers discussing the core issue confronting the youths of the state at a seminar organised today on the eve of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
SP (CID) Shailendra Kumar Sinha, who was the chief guest, said youngsters of various neighbourhoods should be roped in to spread awareness about the ills of substance/drug abuse in their respective localities.
"Regular nukkad nataks and seminars on the issue should also be organised. Youths should be encouraged to remain connected to their parents and close friends. Role of community is very important to stop this menace," he said at the seminar on The Effects of Drug Abuse on Youths and its Prevention organised by Ranchi University's (RU) National Service Scheme (NSS) and Narcotics Control Bureau at the Central Library of the varsity's Morabadi campus here.
Sinha said police should immediately be intimated about peddlers and addicts roaming in and around places such as Ranchi station, Khadgara Bus Stand and schools and colleges.
"We have reports of cultivation of opium in a few districts such as Latehar, Chatra, Palamau, Khunti and Pakur. We are trying to stop its smuggling to neighbouring states," Sinha told a gathering of around 200 students of RU.
Expressing concern over youths inhaling adhesives such as dendrites, superintendent of Narcotics Control Bureau Debashish Choudhary said such addicts were sniffing their lives away.
"Addiction to adhesives like dendrites kills a person faster than anything else. It is a cause of concern because adhesives are easily available at medicine stores. It is also alarming how opium and marijuana are being sold at railway stations and bus stands," he said.
Choudhary said that police needed to be more pro-active in eradicating the menace of drug abuse from the society.
Meanwhile, students of Ranchi College, Marwari Boys College, Gossner College said that they had spotted peddlers outside their campuses and even informed their respective college authorities about it but no action was taken.
"I have seen peddlers outside our campus and distributing ganja among students. I had informed the college authorities. But, still no action was taken," said Manish Rai, first-year history (honours) student of Ranchi College.
