To tackle the growing menace of substance abuse among students, the Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC) and Hyderabad City Police (HCP) launched an initiative — narcotics and other addictions de-sensitisation, reprocessing and Prevention (NADREP) — in the city on Sunday. The programme was attended by representatives of over 1,000 schools across Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda commissionerates.
Calling parents and teachers to be an active part of this war against drugs, officials said that they should also be watchful of their child’s activities and seek professional help if they notice any abnormal changes.
Cops have asked management of educational institutions to keep an eye on eateries in their vicinity for any unusual and illegal activities. They said that the department of emerging technologies is coming out with an AI-based app to detect substance abuse, alcohol abuse and also such behaviours, to enable parents to seek remedial measures.
Burra Venkatesham, principal secretary (education) said that since the drug menace has become a very serious issue, all educational institutions must have anti-drug committees to spread awareness and deal with the spread among the children. “Any institution which does not form these committees or does not put full fledged efforts in this regard, will face tough action,” he said. Hyderabad police commissioner K Sreenivasa Reddy said that the drugs might not be in the campuses, but everywhere around the campuses.
