The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon,Tuesday directed the Deputy Commissioners of the Valley including Leh and Kargil to initiate the process for setting up of drug de-addiction centres in districts.Speaking at a round table conference held here today, Dr Samoon said there is an urgent need to create public awareness using a multi-pronged approach to deal with the menace of drugs in Kashmir region."Drug abuse is used as a stress coping mechanism. The menace has grown due to the continuous strife and other stress related problems. In this, police stations could be the nucleus of change. We will also partner with the civil society and religious groups in Kashmir to tackle the problem," Dr Samoon said. "The religious scholars and preachers have a moral obligation to make people aware of short-term and long-term effects of the problem," Dr Samoon said in the meeting which was attended by all the Deputy Commissioner’s of Kashmir and Leh, DIG (Central), Ghulam Hassan Bhat, senior officers of civil and police administration and civil society members, among others.
The Divisional Commissioner said the Department of Education should take a lead in curtailing the drug menace by organising awareness campaigns in educational institutions"Sports and education departments have a primary role in taking away children from drugs. We should evolve policies to reward teachers who make a change. Even two lines before morning assembly prayers about drug menace will go a long way in addressing the problem," Dr Samoon said.The Divisional Commissioner directed the health department to set up separate drug de-addiction wards in district and sub district hospitals and conduct monthly awareness camps in collaboration with International Committee of Red Cross."The Health department should find provisions for engaging counsellors at district level or training should be imparted to doctors and paramedics in detecting the victims and curing them," the Divisional Commissioner said.Dr Samoon also directed the J&K Police to hold meeting with the civil society groups and religious bodies, to evolve strategies for curbing the menace in the state.