Sunita Godara kicks off campaign against Drug Abuse

New Delhi, Aug 19 (UNI) Former Asian Marathon Champion Sunita Godara kicked off the proceedings at a campaign that was held to observe the International Day against Drug Abuse yesterday.

''No individual, family or community is safe where illicit drugs take control. Drugs may control the body and mind of individual consumers, the drug crop and drug cartels may control farmers, illicit trafficking and crime may control communities,'' Ms Godara said.

A seminar on 'Drug Abuse Prevention and Control' was organised by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Delhi in collaboration with Health Fitness Trust, in Delhi Secretariat.

''Your life your community, No place for drugs'' was the slogan of the seminar.

Delivering the keynote address at the seminar, Secretary, Social Welfare, Gyanendra Shrivastava, said of the six billion world population about 120-125 million people are under the influence of drugs. The trade in illicit drugs amounts to about US dollar 50 billion, third amongst all other trades. In India, at least five million or more are trapped in the drug web. He added that 50 per cent of boys before reaching ninth grade have tried some kind of drugs, which is shocking.

DG Narcotics Control Bureau K C Verma said ''India is surrounded by the 'Golden Crescent' that is fearlessly engaged in cultivating drug producing plants. Towards the east of India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and many of the southeast Asian countries are also engaged in such illicit activities,'' he said.

''Drug suppliers see no barriers. They come across ridges, forests, rugged mountains and water bodies,'' Narcotics Control Bureau Director Mr Siddiqui said. It was shocking to see on the slides that drugs were concealed in the belly of puppies, in fruit and vegetable cartons and in fish crates. 'Body-packing' which means internal ingestion is also practised. A new trend of internet pharmacy is also evident these days.

The campaign in its fifth year against drug abuse received great response from the corporate world. ONGC, HPCL, Oil India Ltd and Jindal Steel and Power and Systopic Labs were the main sponsors.

Their initiative has imparted the message that instead of passing bills, signing protocols, and curbing the supply of drugs, there is a need to curb the demand by saying "I decide that I will not take Drugs''.

UNI