Hi, have you met us? These are some of the interesting and witty tweets used by the city cops to spread awareness on the hazards of drug and alcohol consumption among the youth who are prone to be addicted to it.
Drug abuse is growing among the youth. Although there are a variety of drugs available in the market, but the effects and symptoms are the same on consumption. If the addiction increases it becomes a need more than a solution. Drug abuse has been on the rise among the youngsters in the recent times. Every other day we hear of teens being held for drug abuse and most of them are usually aged between 17 to 20.
Mumbai police has tightened it’s shoe in a bid to educate the youth about the ill- effects of drug addiction and alcoholism. They have taken the support of internet to communicate with the youngsters since internet and social media is another major addiction of the generation of today. The campaign spans from 26th June to 10th July.
According to the National Council of Alcoholism and Drugs Dependence (NCADD) more than 23 million people over the age of 12 are addicted to alcohol and other drugs and in the process affecting parents, family members, friends and neighbors. Younger generation is most affected with the menace of alcohol and drugs, though it seems to be a common issue affecting every other family around us.
As a part of the campaign, posters have been designed to grab the attention of the youths depicting the disadvantages of drugs and the punishment it would attract under the law if they were found guilty. The Anti Narcotics cell of Mumbai police has come up with several issues and are conducting seminars to educate the youngsters on the ill effects of alcohol and the problems they will encounter due to this addiction.
“Realizing the increase in consumption of drugs and alcohol among the youngster and other people of different age group, we have decided to deal with them in their own way. We have started posting pictures with message on it so that the people will understand the effects of drugs and have also appealed to them to look for the people addicted to drugs and alcohol around their surroundings and stop them from doing such curial act,” said an officer attached to Anti Narcotics cell of Mumbai Police.
The Twitter handle of Mumbai Police includes public service messages on issues such as cyber stalking, traffic safety and anti-drugs campaign, but with a dose of humor. The tweets say, “Joy is not in Drugs it’s in Us” yet another says “No one can make you do drugs without your consent” etc.
Schools and colleges are also extending helping hand towards cops by conducting rallies on drugs awareness be covered where students are seen carrying posters with slogans such as ‘SAY NO TO DRUGS,’ ‘DRUGS KILL’, etc.
In an initiative with Mumbai Police, The Protector magazine shares some important points about drugs and it side effects.
Reasons of drug addiction…
- Sheer pressure of studies on students could be one of the reasons leading to substance abuse among the youngsters. The education system is very competitive and lacks flexibility with lakhs of students appearing for a few thousand seats. Parental pressure of making it big academically.
- Personal and family problems also lead to drug abuse among youngsters who fail to cope up with the ever-growing family and personal problems. Workplace pressure and issues with the colleagues results in workplace deviance that have detrimental effects on the individual.
Peer pressure during adolescence also sometimes leads to unproductive activities. Youngsters in the company of friends who are into drugs and alcohol tend to follow them in an attempt to be an active member of the peer group which often results in addiction. Initially it may be an experiment out of curiosity.- In the early stages, one may find it helpful to erase some problems or make one’s life better, but slowly it becomes an addiction. But as addiction goes a step further, it becomes more of a need than solution and an addict cannot survive without it.
Common symptoms that parents/family members should look for:
Although there are different types of drugs, but the effects and the symptoms are more or less the same, irrespective of the kind of drug consumed. Some of the common signs which indicates that an individual is engaged with the process of drug abuse are:
Neglecting responsibilities at workplace, school, colleges or at home like skipping your tuition classes, low performance academically and staying away or alone for most of the time.- It results in indifferences in relationships of an individual such as fights with your family members or your partner, losing a good old friend etc.
- Change in behavioral attitude such as not being the same person when being with friends or family or partner.
- Losing temper easily and getting into nasty fights for petty issues.
- Frequently getting into fights, accidents and illegal activities.
- Lack of motivation and feeling of lethargy.
- Anxiety and Irritation.
- Loss of appetite & weight. Loss of sleep patterns.
Mohit Naik
