Stressing that "serious" measures were needed to be adopted to deal with the problem of drug abuse in the state, Odisha Governor SC Jamir today said its ill effects should be included as a part of the education curriculum.
"Besides including the ill effects of drug abuse in the curriculum, there is a need to create awareness by organising seminars and activities in educational institutes," he said.
"The narcotic substances like tobacco and other potent illegal drugs were easily accessible to youths. Unless serious measures are taken now, the very future of a large chunk of today's youth will be severely compromised," Jamir said.
He was addressing a function on 'Youth against Drugs' after flagging off a marathon race organised by Odiha Pride, a city-based organization on the occasion of "International Day against Drug abuse and illicit trafficking".
The governor also stressed on the need to make educational institutions, hostels and shelters of vulnerable youth as drug-free zone.
"The drug abuse has become a social problem, because it afflicts the family, the economy and the community. It has a negative impact on the fabric of the society and it must be eradicated at any cost," he said.
"Odisha is affected by the narcotics drugs, especially ganja very badly," added Dilip Robi Das, Superintendent, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Bhubaneswar.
He said the NCB has set up its office at Bhubaneswar for last two years because of wide circulation of narcotics substances, particularly ganja.
