Navchetana to prevent drug abuse among students in five districts of Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: The state government is set to launch the second and third phases of the Navchetana programme under National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) in public schools. The programme will be implemented in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Angul and Khurda districts to reduce adverse consequences of drug abuse.

As part of the programme, 10 schools in each of the identified districts will be taken up with a focus on providing education and awareness on drug abuse among school-going children in the age group of 11-18 years. The department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has directed the district education officers to identify the schools.

Odisha government set to launch Navchetana programme to reduce drug abuse among children
This time, the government will rope in NGOs to identify students who are already using substances or showing inclination towards it. Such students will be provided referral linkages for counselling and treatment facilities. Community centres near the schools will be used to conduct outreach activities for the students to prevent drug abuse.