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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1983
THE FIRST WAS TO KEEP THE DRUG ABUSE ISSUE CONSTANTLY BEFORE THE PUBLIC. THE SECOND WAS TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. THE THIRD WAS TO INFORM DRUG ADDICTS OF THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES AVAILABLE AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME FORWARD FOR TREATMENT.
*THE PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS ARE MOUNTED ON A DISTRICT BASIS EACH YEAR. IT IS THROUGH THE IR PARTICIPATION IN THESE CAMPAIGNS EITHER AS ORGANISERS, SPONSORS OR SPECTATORS THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN AND DO BECOME ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS,+ HE SAID.
THE CAMPAIGNS MAY INCLUDE VARIETY CONCERTS, HIKING AND WALKING FOR HEALTH EVENTS, ESSAY COMPETITIONS, SEMINARS AND SCHOOL TALKS.
A FEATURE OF THE CAMPAIGNS WAS THE GREAT EXTENT TO WHICH VOLUNTARY SERVICE CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR SUCCESS, HE ADDED.
MR MORTIMER SAID THAT THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THE DISTRICT CAMPAIGN WITH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT, AND THROUGH THE ON-GOING PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, A HIGH DEGREE OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS TO THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE WAS PROMOTED.
PARENTS WERE NATURALLY IN THE BEST POSITION TO PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND TO IMPART A SENSE OF SECURITY TO YOUNG PEOPLE, HE SAID. THEY COULD ENCOURAGE THEIR CHILDREN TO ENGAGE IN HEALTHY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO EXPERIMENTING WITH DRUGS.
HE SUGGESTED THAT VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, SUCH AS THE LIONS CLUB, MIGHT HELP PARENTS TO DEAL WITH THEIR CHILDREN BY ARRANGING SEMINARS AND TALKS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE,
MR MORTIMER PRAISED THE WORK OF THE JOINT PROJECT IN DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION SPONSORED BY SOME LIONS CLUBS, IN COLLABORATION WITH SARDA.
+THIS PROJECT COULD DO MUCH TO REACH YOUNG SCHOOL LEAVERS WITH SOCIO-EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS WHO MAY BE ON THE FRINGE OF DRUG ABUSE- TO PERSUADE YOUNG EXPERIMENTAL DRUG USERS TO GIVE UP DRUGS AND TO ARRANGE PROMPT TREATMENT FOR DRUG ABUSING YOUTHS, HE SAID.
MR MORTIMER THEN OUTLINED THE VARIOUS PROJECTS ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN EDUCATING THE YOUTH OF THE DANGERS AND HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE.
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