Mangaluru: More than a hundred students from various social work backgrounds paraded across the heart of Mangaluru city to play their part in an awareness campaign against the abuse of drugs and alcohol. Link Anti Addiction Citizens’ Committee (Link AACC) worked hand in hand with Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work and Neheru Yuva Kendra to conduct the ‘Walk For Change’ initiative on Saturday, October 1.

Students of Roshni Nilaya were seen carrying placards bearing the messages, “Life is like a gameboard. Don’t take a wrong turn”, “Delete drugs or they will delete you”, “Drugs make you weak and your future bleak” walking in a single file through despite the heat and traffic dedicated to spread the message of anti addiction. The walk was inaugurated by Member of Legeslative Assembly J R Lobo in Balmatta ground after he symbolically unchained a student pretending to be a drug addict from the shackles of his addiction.

Lobo addressed the gathering and said, “Addiction starts at a young age and goes on till a point of time in life where people have problems. Subsequently over time, the productivity of the addicts will go down and reach rock bottom. The support of families and friends of individuals is very important for the particular person to get out of the addiction and involve in better activities.”

The stretch from Balmatta to Police Ground saw the 200 meter student train which gained the attention of passerbys in their vehicles and public transport. The announcement vehicle sweeping at the back of the parade was loud enough to make people stop their work and peep out of their windows to read and hear the messages of the students.

An eager onlooker from atop a building near Milagres bus stop shared her views regarding the awareness campaign to News Karnataka and said, “Addiction to drugs and alcohol has become a problem in the society. Alcoholism has nothing to boast about too. It is up to the individuals to know where to draw the line which will not only benefit him/her but also to the society. Complete halt to addiction is possible only when people involve themselves in personal development activities like hobbies.”

The walk for change concluded at the Police Ground behind Superintendent of Police office where a formal event was conducted in the presence of Superintendent and Deputy Commissioner of Police along with the staff of Roshni Nilaya, Father Mullers hospital and members of Link Anti addiction Citizens’ Committee.

Bhushan G Borase, Superintendent of Police spoke to the gathering about the ill effects of drug, tobacco and alcohol addiction. In his brief address he said, “India is a country with youth majority and it is highly likely for the youth of today to get trapped into the vicious circle of addiction. Work force in the present generation should be efficient, dedicated and effective to have job security. Addiction does not allow the individual to be productive. The walk for change should not stop here and the word of anti addiction should spread to all the friends of those gathered here”, Borase said.

Shantharaju, the Deputy Commissioner of Law and Order Police mentioned that the Post Graduate and day scholar students usually fall into the vicious trap of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. “Teenagers are usually the victims to such evils. They feel that they should be different compared to others and enjoy college life at the same time. Peer pressure has been a major driving force for teenagers to take up such activities. Although, it is not the end for those who still take it up because it is always possible for anyone to get out of addiction”, he said.

An act was performed and a song was sung against drug addiction after the pretending drug addict renounced his addiction. Items needed to do drugs like syringes, bottles, gutka and cigarette packs were thrown into a large clay pot and set on fire to denote the disdain to these social evils symbolically.

Dr. Satheesh Rao, a psychiatrist and the President of Link AACC spoke about how some youngsters become junkies over a period of time due to peer pressure and curiosity. He said, “it is a tough sight to see youngsters from 14 to 25 years of age coming into the de-addiction center. It is believed that cannabis cures cancer, but that is not a reason to smoke and abuse it just to get intoxicated. Cannabis causes a variety of mental problems which will lead to another, ultimately leading the person nowhere.” 

Seeking extensive support from the police, Dr. Rao said that the only way to help the youngsters is through the help of police. “It also becomes our duty as citizens to inform the police of such activities. Of course, it is but natural to be scared of repercussions, but the police can keep the informants as a secret”, he concluded.