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Dr (Col) Rajinder Singh, Director, Akal Drug De-Addiction and Rehabilitation Centres, Baru Sahib (H.P.) and Cheema Sahib (Pb), has stressed the need for effective management of drug abuse which requires a multi-dimensional approach involving the doctors, law enforcing agencies, BSF, politicians, judiciary, general public, and the CSR initiatives of the MNC’s.
Addressing a gathering of government functionaries holding different posts and positions, at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) Chandigarh, Dr (Col) Rajinder Singh said drug abuse is not just a medical issue it is a public health and social issue where the role of public and private partnership is vital in controlling the menace of drugs. Discussing the gravity of drug abuse, he said there is no other disease in the world that kills the conscience of a person, whereas a patient of drug addiction can go too far in committing crimes of unimaginable magnitude.
Discussing the various types of drugs, intoxicants, their prevalence, intensity and deleterious effects, Dr (Col) Rajinder Singh quoted WHO to say that 1,25,000 people died of opioid overdose in the world in 2019. Heroine/Chitta caused the maximum number of drug overdose deaths worldwide. Tobacco accounts for 8.7 million deaths globally i.e. 73 per cent of all deaths a caused by drug abuse in the world every year, making it the maximum mortality-causing substance.
Discussing the demand reduction strategies, he said prevention is the best treatment as it is easier to stay out than to come out of drugs. He also elaborated on the role of parents and teachers and healthy mechanisms to tackle basic mental issues like stress and not to succumb to maladaptive practices like resorting to drugs and alcohol.
Dr (Col) Rajinder Singh also underlined the importance of maintaining good mental health as a person with sound mental health is least likely to succumb to drugs.
Earlier, Dr Jog Singh Bhatia, Senior Consultant at the MGSIPA, introduced Dr (Col) Rajinder Singh to the audience, highlighting the urgency of public-private partnership in controlling drug abuse.
Dr Jog Singh presented a letter of appreciation to Dr (Col) Rajinder Singh to honour him for the insightful engagement on the urgent issue.
