MAPUSA
Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza on Sunday said there were more bars than pharmacies in the State and that nobody could do anything about it.
“We cannot shut down bars. But at the individual level we need to have will power to say no and stay away from addiction,” D’Souza said.
The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking as the chief guest at a function to commemorate International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking organised by Kripa Foundation, Anjuna, in collaboration with Narcotics Control Bureau at the Mapusa Church hall on Sunday.
The deputy chief minister said alcohol was a huge problem and one could witness the growing addiction in Mapusa.
“In Mapusa, bars open at 5.30 in the morning. You will find a big queue for alcohol at the break of dawn,” he said.
Sharing his personal example, the deputy chief minister said he can be an inspiration to his children and expected the other parents to do the same.
“I don’t say I don’t drink. I do drink, but occasionally. A little wine on a feast day or a beer when I go abroad,” D’Souza said. “Similarly, my son too does not drink,” he added.
Terming the battle against drugs and alcoholism as a big and long fight, the deputy chief minister, said the society has to come together and fight the addiction collectively.
“The number of addicts is increasing every day at an alarming rate and gaining fearful proportion. Individually it may be difficult to curb the menace but we can fight it together,” he said.
Guest speaker on the occasion, Air Vice Marshal Dr Giles Gomez presented a slide show explaining the cause and effect of drug addiction and how the brain gets hooked on to drugs.
He stated that in India, Karnataka topped the list in drug abuse amongst children.
“Almost 88 per cent of school students have already tasted alcohol,” Dr Gomez said.
“In Meghalaya, tobacco and alcohol consumption is the highest in the country while use of cannabis was the highest in Uttaranchal,” he said.
He said the figures were attributed only to consumption among children, which started from 8-year-old onwards.
He further disclosed that 68 per cent in Tripura inhaled glue and other inhalants while heroin use was the highest in Meghalaya.
Dr Gomez also described how drug peddlers were enticing young adolescents into their net.
Superintendent of Narcotics Control Bureau, Jitendra Rajan also spoke on the occasion.
