ANTI-DRUG DRIVE SHOULD FOCUS ON YOUTH: MEIRA

NEW DELHI: Minister of social justice and empowerment Meira Kumar on
Tuesday launched the National Drug Awareness Campaign aimed at
preventing drug abuse among young people on the occasion of
'International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking'.

Speaking on the occasion, she called for expanding the campaign into
a movement involving civil society, government departments, teachers,
corporate leaders and NGOs so that "our citizens remain healthy and
productive".

She said the campaign would target the youth in the age group of
10-18 irrespective of whether they are in or out of school. Stressing
the need for directing the campaign towards vulnerable groups like
street children and children with disabilities, she said social
workers and teachers have a special responsibility.

The minister wanted the campaign to focus on the corporate sector as
substance abuse is harmful to both enterprises and workers. "Drug and
alcohol abuse not only affects work performance but also results in
higher rates of absenteeism, accidents, illness and mortality with
all related costs to the economy and society."

She said the ministry's theme for this year's International Day
Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is, 'Don't mess with your
life -- stay away from drugs'.

She said that the social justice and empowerment ministry is
assisting around 350 voluntary organisations under the Scheme for
Prohibition and Drug Abuse Prevention. They are running 379
treatment-cum-rehabilitation centres and 52 counselling centres
across the country Asia.