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Drug addiction grips Udhampur, leading youths astray

Young Bites. Dated: 12/9/2017 8:21:38 AM

Why is Udhampur's youth so susceptible ?

SUMEET KARNAL SHARMA
Udhampur, Dec 8
Categorically, It's time to accept the harsh reality - Udhampur's youth has fallen into the grip of drug abuse! The menace has woven itself deep into the fabric of our society.
Ironically, Udhampur's younger generation is caught in the vicious circle of drug abuse, and the numbers of drug addicts are increasing day by day. The damage to the physical, psychological, moral and intellectual growth of the youth is severely alarming! Cannabis, heroin, opium, hashish and Indian-produced pharmaceutical drugs are the most frequently abused drugs in Udhampur.
Despite the appreciated effort of local police, addictive drugs easily available on tea stalls pool play point and other places of the city.
A local drug addict with anonymity said that, “He has been a victim of drugs for almost five years now, It started with a fantasy, a cigarette first, and then day-after-day during friendship night outs and parties, he started taking pills, then weed until he found himself imprisoned in the menace of drug addiction.” Describing the reasons behind addiction another resident said that, “three reasons leads to drug addiction which includes personal relationships, family issues, or friendships night outs and parties. He added that in the initial stage students use a certain type of drugs like fevicol, fluids, and cough syrups, shoe polish, due to their easy availability in provisional stores, stationery, and medical shops, the students, due to easy access of these things, continue to consume them.”
According to information, District Police have registered approx 40 cases in last few months which are increasing by the time and arrested some drugs peddlers from the different areas of Udhampur like Adersh Colony, Sallian Talab , Shiv nager etc by the complaints of drugs victims’ families and police also seized a large amount abusive drugs during checking on Nation Highway but police is yet to evolve a comprehensive strategy for combating the growing drug menace in the district despite being informed number of times by citizens and NGOs during police public meets here .
Speaking to Young Bites SSP Rayeez Ahmad Bhat said, “This is a serious issue with which we are working very strictly and actively, there we have tied the ends and we are looking forward to time to time awareness programmes at School and Colleges to so that youth can be aware and protected from this menace.”
While President of Lok Vikas Dal , Vikram Singh Slathia has expressed serious concern, “Youth belonging to lower age groups are being initiated into drug abuse in the city. the youth will not They alleged that police failed some time search of them(drugs Peddlers ) and they also demanded that special patrolling by police is needed to check menace within the city to check drug addiction to save youths from it especially in main points of the city.”
Pertinently, the town is quickly gaining a reputation for its drug usage. But everyone should need to know, why is India's youth so susceptible?