Srinagar, Apr 28: Expressing serious concern over the menace of drug abuse in Kashmir, the health experts and civil society members Saturday stressed the need to form ‘Community Based Task Force’ and pressure groups to generate awareness among the focused group of individuals to curb the growing problem.
 Speaking at a day-long conference organized by an International Humanitarian Group, Mother Helpage Worldwide, the participants including clinical psychologists, health volunteers, doctors, civil society members and journalists stated that the respectable and influential people in the society including religious leaders and newly elected Panchs and Sarpanchs should play a major role in curbing the drug menace.
 Most of the participants were of the opinion that the mushroom growth of pharmaceutical companies in the valley also added to the problem of drug menace. “There is an easy availability of drugs in the valley. Every kind of drug is sold here without doctor’s prescription,” the experts said.
 Senior Program Manager, Jammu and Kashmir Volunteer Association (JKVHA) A K Wani stressed on the employment generation for the youth to keep them busy. “The vocational activities will also help youth to get rid of the menace,” he added.
 Addressing the conference, Wani said the health department should start counseling centres at every district to train people for the rehabilitation programs
 Dr Mudasir, a clinical psychologist opined that cigarette smoking had remained the entry point for many drug abusers as of now. “So we need to stop this practice through proper check on the promotional activities of the smoking and alcoholic products as youth usually follow the action of celebrity figure on media,” he said.
 While giving solutions to the problem at the concluding session, the participants said the primary goal of community based drug addiction treatment program is to encourage behavioral change in a community, active involvement of local community members and organizations in establishing a community based centers for empowerment of addicts, integration of rehabilitation and drug treatment programs into community health and accountability and sustainability of community.
 Dr Abdul Majeed, Associate Professor at Community Medicine, SKIMS said the community based drug addiction treatment center focus on encouraging the addicts to cultivate their natural instincts to manage their drug addiction and associated problems within a community.
 “The services can be provided in social settings like schools, colleges, local clinics, private homes, or other friendly environment,” he said.
 A M Mir, retired IAS and Executive Director, JKVHA said the School Monitoring Committees and Village Monitoring Committees would be formulated to check the suspicious activities of the people and students. “The teachers and parents will play a great role to identify the problem in the students,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST