June 26 is celebrated as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking every year. It is an exercise undertaken by the world community to sensitize the people in general and the youth in particular, to the menace of drugs.  Drug abuse has led to a detrimental impact on our society. It has led to increase in the crime rate. Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs remove inhibition and impair judgment egging one on to commit offences. Incidence of eve- teasing, group clashes, assault and impulsive murders increase with drug abuse. Apart from affecting the financial stability, addiction increases conflicts and causes untold emotional pain for every member of the family. With most drug users being in the productive age group of 18-35 years, the loss in terms of human potential is incalculable. According to a UN report, One million heroin addicts are registered in India, and our Kolkata has her share of it too!

Kolkata Police, like yesteryears, in a bid to eradicate this menace has organised a ‘Campaign’ which culminated on 26th June at Rabindra Sadan, with a renewed vigour to fight the abuse of drugs throughout the year. It is needless to say, that, the whole community must join hands in such efforts, as none of us know when this monster will slowly creep into our secured family.

 The following programmes were scheduled throughout Kolkata with the active participation of a number of NGOs of our city-

• SIT AND DRAW COMPETITION FOR RECOVERING DRUG ADDICTS— 120 Recovering drug addicts participated at DOJO Hall, PTS.
• FREE DETOXIFICATION CAMPS     ——    Camps were set up at 3 locations in Kolkata in  association with experienced NGOs. Free residential treatment / councelling were provided to addicts for 10days from 16/06/10 to 26/06/10.
• BI CYCLE RALLY- Campaign against drugs on bi cycle from 18/06/10 to 26/06/10. The rally moved through different parts of our city.
•  INTER SCHOOL ESSAY COMPETITION:— Students of 89 schools participated in Essay Competition in 4 languages viz.- English, Hindi, Bangla & Urdu on the subject- “ Drug Abuse- a personal or Social Problem?”
•  INTER SCHOOL POSTER COMPETITION:— Students of 89 schools participated in Poster Competition on “ Joy Of Freedom from Drugs”.
•  INTER SCHOOL DEBATE COMPETITION:— Students of 89 schools  participated in Essay Competition in 4 languages viz.- English, Hindi, Bangla & Urdu on the subject- “ Absence Of Role Models Pushes Young Generation Towards Drug Addiction.”
•  AWARENESS were also spread through HOARDINGS (At 30 prime locations in Kolkata), THROUGH SMSs, INCODA TV/ LOCAL CHANNELS telecasted a small Anti- Drug documentary film. MOBILE MEDIA VANS are engaged.
•  KIOSKs operated in 40 prime locations of Kolkata from 23.06.2010 to 26.06.2010 for distribution of pamphlets, badgets, other awareness meterials and  street plays were also held to spread awareness. SPECIAL KIOSK at Sealdah operated from 08.00hrs. to 20.00hrs. Foot rallies were organised at different areas with the active participations from local clubs & organisations.

PROGRAMME AT RABINDRA- SADAN ON 26/06/2010- Commissioner of Police, Kolkata presided over  the programme. Smt.  Rituparna Sengupta, actress, was the guest of honour. 

Our endevour is to make our city a safer place and your participation will provide us the necessary boost to carry on throughout the year. Our motto is to spread awareness, so we can act according to need.

 It’s a disease, and we all must fight it out!