Kozhikode: Anti-tobacco project pilot in 26 schools

KOZHIKODE: The National Rural Health Mission’s (NRHM) National Tobacco Control Programme will be implemented on a pilot-basis in 26 government schools in the Corporation limits. The programme envisages imparting awareness on drug abuse, tracing victims, giving counseling and other rehabilitation measures. Police, Excise and Social Justice wings will cooperate with the programme.

“Five students from each school would be selected to implement the programme. They will be provided peer education and through them the message would be carried to each student,” explained NRHM district programme manager A. Baburaj. As a first step, officers of the health, social justice department would give training lessons to NCC/NSS volunteers and teachers followed by the selection of the five students. These students will report the drug usage among peers and subsequent remedial measures taken.

Those who need counseling can take lessons from the experts through Skype or seek treatment from the tobacco control cell at the government general hospital. “Despite several measures, the substance abuse among teenagers is not curbed. New methods and innovative substances are being used by students,” said an official of the health department. Use of alternative drugs which act as psychotropic substances are now the major concern as youngsters use these for a high.

These psychotropic medications, known as mind altering drugs are often used to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia, and are not under the category of narcotic products and therefore officials cannot stop the use of such substances. “It has been reported from several parents and teachers that such tablets have been found on students while the use of whitener-inhalation for addiction are also on the rise, mostly among teens,” Excise Deputy Commissioner P.K. Suresh.