Social Welfare department celebrates International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh 26^th June:--Social Welfare department, Chandigarh celebrated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at SNEHALAYA,in Maloya to  create awareness among the society about the ill effects of Drug Abuse. More than 200 persons from slum colonies participated from different institutions. Supervisors and Anganwari Workers also participated this function. Prof BS Chavan, Professor & Head Department of Psychiatry. GMCH 32, Dr Deepak Sharma,GMSH 16, and NGO's  and other representatives from ICDS  were also present during the function. 

Director Social Welfare Sh. Rajesh Jogpal  in his inaugural addressed urged the youth to prevent from using drugs and said that the best protection for the drug abuse is the family support and for the school going and college going youth the teachers have a positive and protective role to play in checking this menace. Director Social Welfare also advised the representatives from the Health department to motivate the addicts to seek medical assistance and counselling support from the government departments of Social Welfare and Health. 

 While Prof. B S Chavan addressed the participants and highlighted the wrong perception about drug abuse, and called upon the participants that the drug abuse is like a disease for which medical treatment and counselling support is required. Dr. B.S. Chavan also gave a detailed presentation on the problem and highlighted various reasons for the use of drugs by the young and the aged persons. He also stated that as a consequence of use of drugs specially alcohol in excess has given a rise to the number of accidents taking place in Chandigarh and Punjab. It was also pointed out that illegal sale of drugs to individuals without the prescription of doctor is the main cause for its rise in the number of drug addicts in the city.

 Dr.Ajit K. Sidana, Incharge of Drug De-addiction Centre ,GMCH-32 also highlighted the plight of drug addictions in the city and informed that treatment for them is available with GMCH-32, GMSH-16, PGIMER and SPYM Drug De-addiction Centre, Sector 18, Chandigarh. It was also informed that 12 Bedded drug de-addiction centre  in Govt. Multi Specialty Hospital Sector 16; 30 Bedded De-Addication Centre in Govt. Press Building Sector 18, 12 Bedded DDTC in GMCH-32 and PGIMER,Sector 12,Chandigarh.Dr.Deepak Sharma from Govt. Multi Specialty Hospital, Sector 16 urged the youth to show courage to say NO to DRUGS.