Chennai: Tamil Nadu director general of police (DGP) Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal on Wednesday urged students to stay away from drugs and other harmful substances, while inaugurating a two-day symposium organised by Enforcement Bureau CID for ‘International Day Against Drug Abuse’ at Guru Nanak College.He said students today face several challenges, including exposure to harmful content on social media. He said that advertisements and promotions related to narcotics and banned substances are increasingly found online and cautioned students against falling prey to such influences. He advised students not to succumb to peer pressure, and added that state govt is taking the issue seriously. He urged the students to reject drugs with the slogan: “I don’t need it and we don’t need it”. The DGP said students facing stress or emotional difficulties should turn to constructive activities such as physical exercise and movement, rather than resorting to addictive substances.Additional director general of police (ADGP), Enforcement Bureau CID, K Shankar said the state follows a two-pronged strategy to combat drug abuse. The first is supply reduction, involving strict enforcement measures to curb drug trafficking and distribution. The second is demand reduction, which focuses on awareness campaigns, educational programmes and community outreach to reduce consumption. He said intensive surveillance is being carried out along state borders, with vehicles subjected to regular inspections. Police are also investigating drug seizures to identify the source and destination networks involved.Warning drug traffickers of stringent action, the ADGP said those involved in the illegal trade would face severe legal consequences, including detention under the Goondas Act and attachment of properties linked to drug trafficking.Around 700 students from 11 colleges participated in the symposium on the first day.
