Hand Book for Gaon Burahs and Panchayati Raj Leader

107and strains of modern life, erosion in social values and loosening of theinformal means of social control have complicated the problem.In order to deal with the problem, we can adopt 5 points strategy as follows:1. Awareness campaign against Drugs menace and vigilance.2. Identification of addict and motivation.3. De-addiction through camps/Hospitals.4. Follow up after de-addiction.5. Rehabilitation.And, of course enforcement through police and other law enforcingagencies shall have to continue.1. Awareness campaign against Drug menace and vigilance.There still remains a considerable degree of ignorance among the publicabout the ill-effects of drug abuse on the individual, the family and thecommunity. A deliberate decision has, therefore, been taken by the Ministry ofSocial Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India to step up publicity throughmass media, both formal and informal. Several Radio and TV programmeshave been launched to create awareness about the role of parents, teachersand opinions of leaders in prevention and control of drinking and Drug abuse.A number of films have been produced and distributed to disseminateknowledge among the masses. Voluntary organizations are being financiallyassisted to undertake educative work in various communities and targetgroups.Role of GBs and Panchayat leaders in awareness and vigilance is veryimminent. They are the right people having grass root base and who canactively participate in Campaign against drugs and also can keep vigil on thepeddlers, Sellers and Consumers. Their timely information can be very usefulin nabbing a body of devoted people in every village.It has also been observed that when family and friends try to ‘help’ theaffected person, they are actually making it easier for the progression of theproblems. This is called ‘enabling’. It helps the dependent person avoid theconsequences of his/her action. This, in turn, leads to continued drug use,with the knowledge that someone is always there for the rescue. GBs andpanchayat leaders can educate the family members of the addict and Massesagainst such enabling.2. Identification of Addict and motivation :Similarly the role of GBs and panchayat leaders along with therespective family members in identification of addicts is of great importance.Here we shall have to understand that Drug abuse is a psycho-socio-Medicalproblem which needs to be treated in the entirety of the life situations in theaddicts. After identification of addicts, motivation to bring them for de-addictionis again very vital. It is the society and the family who can play this roleeffectively.