‘Multi-pronged approach to deal with drug menace among youth’

Panaji: A multi-pronged approach — education, sensitisation and awareness, besides prosecution of offenders — is to be taken to ensure that youth stay away from the drug menace, Goa police said while interacting with students at a narcotics awareness programme at (DMC) Dyanprasarak Mandals College and research centre, Mapusa, on Friday.
“A lot of teenagers are being trapped in drug and alcohol abuse, and it is important to nip it at an early stage. Social institutions, police authorities and the administration must educate students about the ill-effects of drugs and alcohol,” SDPO Mapusa Jivba Dalvi said. “There is a possibility that youngsters are taking to drugs due to peer pressure, depression, anxiety or the idea of ‘fitting in’. Police, doctors and social organisations that have been dealing in this area need to collaborate to deal with it.”