JAMMU: As part of the ongoing efforts to curb the rising menace of drug abuse, the District Administration Jammu, under the guidance of District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya, today organised an Information, Education and Communication campaign at Government Boys High School, Bansultan, Miran Sahib. The campaign was presided over by Additional District Magistrate Ansuya Jamwal.
The initiative is part of a three-month-long IEC campaign aimed at spreading awareness and educating the public on the dangers of substance abuse. The event featured expert lectures by psychiatrists, educators and former addicts who shared insights into the psychological, emotional and physical consequences of drug addiction.
Addressing the gathering, ADM Jamwal emphasised the need for collective action to tackle drug abuse at the grassroots level. She urged parents to remain vigilant and proactive in preventing children from falling into the trap of addiction.
“Society must come together and openly discuss ways to prevent the infiltration of drugs into our society. Any suspicion regarding drug-related activities must be reported immediately to the district administration, such as the Tehsildar or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The law ensures protection for whistleblowers,” she asserted.
Highlighting peer pressure as a major factor influencing youth towards drug abuse, she stressed the importance of educating children about resisting such influences. “We must act together as a society to stop this gradual descent of our nation into drug abuse. The fight begins at the ground level,” she added.
A total of 35 awareness events were organised across multiple panchayats in the district today alone. So far, 118 events have been conducted since the campaign commenced on February 10. Over the next three months, a total of 305 such events have been planned to ensure awareness reaches every corner of the district.
The event saw participation from students and local residents. Among those present were Zonal Education Officer Verthana Sharma, Block Development Officer Sonali Arora, Principal Ashok Chopra, PSI Ajesh Jamwal and other officials.