SU Students, teachers urged to play their role in sensitizing communities about the harmful effects of drug usage
Speakers on Wednesday have urged both teachers and students to play their role in sensitizing communities about the harmful effects of drug usage in the province of Sindh.
They said the prevention of drugs in youth could be done through launching awareness campaigns via declamation and poster contests, on-campus anti-drug societies and the media.
This they said while addressing the seminar titled "Drugs Abuse Awareness and Prevention", organized jointly by the Bureau of STAGS and PM Green Youth Movement, University of Sindh Jamshoro in collaboration with Anti-Crime & Anti-Narcotics Organization, which was held in the auditorium of Institute of Commerce & Management.
Additional Collector Customs Tahir Abbas delivered a lecture to SU students on drug abuse in youth, drug prevention and treatment, harms from drug use, addiction risk factors and drug types like cigarette, opium, heroine, opiates and ice crystal.
He urged both teachers and students to play their role in sensitizing communities about the harmful effects of drug usage.
Assistant Director Anti-Narcotic Force Hyderabad Haroon Tariq underscored the need for protecting the youth from falling victim to drug addiction by providing them facilities and encouraging them to take up healthy activities to change their lifestyle.
He urged the media and civil society to play their role in creating awareness about the impact of drugs on young lives.
Psychiatrist at Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Addiction & Drug Rehabilitation Centre Hyderabad Dr. Shehryar Qambrani said the issue needed immediate attention to print and electronic media and civil society.
"They should play a positive role in creating awareness among the masses about the use of drugs", he said.
He ascribed use of drugs to psychological and socio-cultural factors.
“Drugs use can be prevented if proper measures are taken. Public awareness seminars and campaigns can also be helpful in this regard,” he said.
Associate Professor Department of Psychology Dr. Farhat Jokhyo touched upon the core issues related to drug usage and its impact on society.
He highlighted the role of the government in prevention of drug abuse and announced his department would work together with the ANF and other organizations to conduct research on how to overcome increasing use of drugs.
“Each individual can play a key role in making a difference in society, especially in minimizing drug abuse”, he said.
Director Bureau of STAGS Dr Ghazala Panhwar said that she was making efforts to keep a check on students, adding that committees consisted of students who would be formed to restrain pupils from engaging in unhealthy and negative activities.
She called for elimination of poverty and ignorance which sowed seeds of pessimism in youths and led them to drug addiction.
“Healthy activities like sports and debates play a greater role in preventing the youth from becoming addicts,” she said.
“It is our responsibility to save our generation from drug abuse and build a progressive, prosperous and drug free Pakistan” Dr Panhwar added.
A large number of students and teachers from different departments of the University of Sindh including convenor PMGYM Dr Muhammad Younis Leghari and Dr Nazir Hussain Brohi were also present.
Afterwards, a drug awareness rally was also taken out from the Institute of Commerce & Management, which culminated after arriving at the Central Library of the University.
