Staff Reporter

Margao

Stating that the law enforcement agencies play a significant role in combating substance abuse among juveniles, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) chairperson Peter Borges said it is crucial for the community to come together to protect our future generations from the dangers of the menace.

“Our goal with this training is to enhance the capabilities of our police force in tackling the challenges of substance abuse, thereby ensuring the safety and welfare of our children,” said Borges at the launch of two-day training programme to empower police personnel with proper knowledge and tools for effectively addressing the menace of substance abuse among children and adolescents.

The training programme organised by GSCPCR in collaboration with the Goa Police and Goa Dental College and Hospital started on April 1 at
Altinho-Panaji.

“Nearly 200 police personnel of various ranks, including newly-inducted personnel will be provided with a comprehensive curriculum that explores the definition and types of substance abuse, the identification of signs and symptoms, and the enforcement of legal statutes such as the COTPA Act-2003, NDPS Act-1985, JJ Act-2015, and PECA-2019,” said Borges.

Borges said that there is an urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the risks associated with electronic cigarettes, especially among students, while seeking stringent enforcement of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019.

Director General of Police Jaspal Singh said that it is part of a mission to protect the future generations from the menace of substance abuse.

Dean of Goa Dental College Dr Ida de Noronha de Ataide said that there has been a noticeable prevalence of tobacco misuse at the camps conducted by it and, in response, they have collaborated with the GSCPCR to introduce a pocket manual for enforcing the substance
abuse laws.