KUPWARA: To review the progress made to curb the drug abuse in Kupwara district, a meeting of District Level Committee of Narco Coordination (NCORD) was held today under the chairpersonship of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan at DC Office Complex, here.

At the outset, DC took a detailed appraisal from concerned members of NCORD Committee regarding the present scenario of drug related occurrences, various issues related to menace of drug addiction, its control and rehabilitation and areas of concern.

DC meticulously reviewed the implementation of the measures taken and progress achieved to eliminate drug abuse and its peddling in the district.

Ayushi took feedback from the members of the Committee who presented the latest report related to action taken against drug-addiction and drug trafficking in the district.

She also emphasized the Officers including Enforcement agencies for identification and close vigil of entry points, hot spots of drugs, public places and abandoned buildings.

Similarly, DC also laid thrust on further intensifying IEC campaigns (seminars, rallies and other programmes on the harmful effects of drug menace) at school and college levels to sensitize students and common masses about ill-effects of drugs and close coordination between Health, Education and other line departments.

DC meticulously reviewed the functioning of Drug De-addiction Centre Kupwara and Addiction Treatment Facility Centre (ATFC) Handwara, and stressed for upscaling of the therapeutic management and proper counselling of the drug addicts which can help them to come out of the menace.

She emphasized the need for providing self-employment opportunities to the drug victims who have recovered so that they can live a dignified life in the society.

The DC said in order to combat this rising societal problem, multi-pronged Rehabilitation, Counselling and Guidance policy is indispensable to be implemented on ground to monitor drug abuse and take remedial measures to curb the menace so that sufferings of the drug-affected persons are mitigated.

The meeting among others was attended by ADC Kupwara, Gulzar Ahmad; ACR Kupwara, ASP Kupwara, ASP Hanwara, CMO Kupwara, Medical Superintendent DH Handwara, DEPO, Assistant Drug Controller, Tehsildars, besides other concerned Officers.