Curb rising drugs, alcohol abuse in children: SC to Centre

SC favoured a re-look on the school curriculum to make children aware about substance abuse and its ill-effects

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to put in place, within six months a national action plan to curb the rising drugs and alcohol abuse cases among school children, observing they are encouraged to become "drug peddlers once they get addicted".

A bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and DY Chandrachud also asked the Centre to conduct a national survey on the substance and alcohol abuse and use of psychotropic substances among children in schools across the country.

Issuing a slew of directions, the bench observed, "Children are encouraged to become drug peddlers once they are addicted (to drugs)."

The bench also favoured a re-look on the curriculum to make school children aware about substance abuse and its ill-effects.

The directions were passed on a 2014 PIL filed by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

The NGO, in its plea, had sought a direction to formulate a national action plan for children on drugs and substance abuse, including all issues of identification, investigation, recovery, counselling and rehabilitation.

It had also sought the creation of model syllabus on ill- effects of drugs and substance abuse.

The NGO, represented by senior advocate HS Phoolka, had sought setting up of rehabilitation and de-addiction centres in each district of the country with a special wing for children.