Kozhikode: Excise minister T.P. Ramakrishnan on Monday inaugurated the first de- addiction counseling centre in north Kerala at Government AUP School, Chinthava-lapu, started as part of the de- addiction center at the Beach General Hospital. Inaugurating the free facility, the minister said that the works of the model de-addiction center at Kinaloor will be soon started, which provide help to people who are addicted to drugs in various forms.
The center started under the banner of the Vimukthi Mission aims to offer free counseling to school students, teachers and their parents In order to protect their children from drug abuse.
As per the plan of the excise department, zonal level counseling centers will be started in every district in the wake of the increase in number of drug abuse among the school and college going students. Initially the department aims at targeting the school students which will be later spread to the higher education sector.
V.R. Anil Kumar, Deputy Excise Commissioner, while talking further about the benefits of such counseling centers said that, two counselors appointed by the government with assistance from the excise officials will visit different schools and offer counseling to students. General public can also avail this facility.
The information collected from the students would be made use for the further activities of the center. It will be using this information that students requiring counseling would be identified and later provided counseling.
In case if the environment in the family is found to be not soothing, the parents will also be counseled as part of the initiative, he further detailed.
The centre would be opened from 8 am to 5 pm on all working days. For more details or to reach the counselors contact: 9188468494/ 9188458494.
