Taking serious cognisance of the abuse of pharmaceutical drugs especially by the youth in Dehradun, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has directed officials to fix responsibility and conduct an intensive campaign against this.
Chairing a meet with officials of various departments here on Monday, the CM ordered that a joint team consisting of Health Department, police and district administration be formed to conduct random checking.
Expressing concern at the rising substance abuse among students, Rawat directed officials to especially keep an eye on pan shops and medical stores located near schools and colleges.
The CM directed officials to make a list of the pharmaceutical drugs generally abused by the youth for intoxication and to ensure that only licensed stockists sell this to people providing a doctor’s prescription for the same. Cancellation of license and other action should be taken against any store found selling the drugs to people without prescription.
Rawat directed the district magistrate to hold a meeting with school principals and direct them to ensure within a week that students in their institutions and hostels do not possess any intoxicants or any items used for substance abuse. On receiving information about possible substance abuse, the district administration can direct inquiry in the institution and hostel, he added.
Rawat directed the police, district administration and health department to constitute a joint team of their senior officers to conduct surprise checks on the license, stock and register of medical stores. Warning should be issued to the effect that any pan or other shop found selling tobacco or other such items in pouches near educational institutions will be under suspicion.
The CM further said that responsibilities of officials in tackling rising pharmaceutical drug abuse by students should also be fixed and stringent action should be taken in case of involvement or negligence at any level.
The help of de-addiction centres should be sought in treatment of youth addicted to substance abuse. The police should deploy its intelligence network to learn about the drug smuggling network with special focus on areas notorious for contraband trade, he added. Chief Secretary N Ravishankar, DGP BS Sidhu, Dehradun district magistrate Ravinath Raman and SSP Pushpak Jyoti among others were present in the meeting.