Delhi govt to run drug abuse prevention programme in schools

In order to generate awareness among children about ill-effect of drugs, the Delhi government has decided to run 'Drug abuse prevention programme' in all its schools in a phased manner across the city.
In the first phase, the Education Department has already conducted such awareness drive at its 30 schools on a pilot basis which has delivered good results, a senior government official said.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to complete a national survey and generate a data base within six months about the drug abuse by children saying that "protecting children from wide-spread prevalence of substance abuse is one of the biggest policy challenges facing India."

There are around 942 schools being run by the Delhi government in the city.
"Education Department has set a target of covering around 100 government schools, which are vulnerable to drug abuse, under 'Drug Abuse Prevention Programme' in next three months.
"The programme has been designed for students of Class VIII, IX, X, XI and XII. In other phases, rest of the schools will come under this programme. Government will also rope in NGOs to initiate such drive in several schools," the official said.

As part of the drive against drug abuse, students are educated through a short film on how to refuse their friends when they offer drugs to them.

"During the programme, teachers are also educated regarding what they should do to prevent drug abuse among children," official said.
He also claimed that the Delhi government is the first in the country which has started a drug abuse prevention programme in schools.