Mangaluru: The Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Pattanayak S.K and Lidia Lobo from Link De-addiction and Counseling Centre chaired a meeting along with the district administrative officials to discuss the increase of youngsters falling to narcotic and psychotropic drugs.
Educational institutions and organisations working in the field of de-addiction were also present during the meet and expressed concern over the scenario.
“Youth aged between 16 and 18 were getting addicted to drugs which is a matter of concern and de-addiction is extremely rigid”, said Lidia Lobo addressing the meeting.
Hilda Rayappan from Prajna Counselling Centre said they have so far treated 18,290 persons in the last 24 years at their three de-addiction centres in city.
De-addicted children are kept for nearly a year at Chinnara Tangudhama while women are kept in Santwana Kendra. “This has been really effective; however it is difficult in running these three centres as there are no regular grants from the State government”, she added.
Additional Director-General of Police (Internal Security) T. Suneel Kumar and ADGP (Intelligence) A.M. Prasad, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) Amrith Paul, Commissioner of Police S. Murugan, and Superintendents of Police from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Karwar and Coastal Security Police attended the meeting.
Deputy Commissioner A.B Ibrahim, officials from Narcotic Crime Bureau, Coast Guards and Central Industrial Security Force were also present.
