The Goa SCPCR took cognizance of the emerging substance abuse problem among children and brought together all stakeholders on a common platform on 21st April at Seminar Hall, Secretariat, Porvorim, to address the same through a multilateral, multipronged setting through effective and increased cooperation. The Commission will provide leadership to the largest coordinated effort to fight substance abuse amongst children in the state with decisive plans and quarterly monitoring.
Taking heed of the report by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Chairperson of the Commission, Peter F. Borges, said that both the districts in Goa are identified as vulnerable and that an addiction plague is steadily swallowing Goa.
Addressing the stakeholders in opening remarks, he said that our response demands an urgent, integrated, mutually reinforcing, evidence informed, balanced and comprehensive approach to supply and demand reduction strategies. While progress continues to be made, community centric policing, medical consultation and intervention, awareness programmes and proactive governmental intervention is the need of the hour.
He called on the stakeholders to affirm their unwavering commitment to addressing substance abuse, specially focusing on primary prevention, early intervention, treatment, care, rehabilitation, recovery, and social reintegration measures.
The interactions with the stakeholders at the meeting resulted in a number of recommendations which are made by the Commission towards a path to a drug free Goa.
Firstly, it has been recommended by the Commission that there should be a complete ban on surrogate advertising of Vimal elaichi masala on KTCL buses, as consumption of the same is being noticed among children and being found in schools too. Section 5 of COTPA Act 2003 prohibits direct and indirect advertisements of tobacco products. As a result, advertisements of surrogate products like ‘Vimal pan masala’ is seen on the KTCL buses. The Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) has been asked to take an action in 30 days as banning of the display of such a product will reduce the disproportionate health and economic burden among the poor, its use is increasingly concentrated among the poor and other vulnerable groups. Such a move will generate significant government revenues for health and development work.
Further, it has been suggested that special coordinated drives be organized by Goa Police in collaboration with Directorate of Education to curb sales of liquor, biddies /cigarettes, gutkha and other tobacco products within 100 meters radius of the schools and educational institutions including coaching centers for children, as per Section (6) of the COTPA 2003. Directorate of Education has been asked to issue a special circular to schools in this regard for identification and action. Again, action has to be taken in 30 days.
The Directorate of Education has further been recommended to ensure 100 percent compliance of ‘No Smoking Area – Smoking here is An Offence & Tobacco Free Educational Institution’ signage at the entrance(s) of educational institutions, as per Section 4 of COTPA and marking of 100 yards area from the outer limit of boundary wall / fence of the educational institution, in 30 days. Along with ensuring 100 percent formation of Prahari Clubs in Schools/Higher Secondary Schools and creating annual plan for engagement with students with the nodal officer.
The Goa SCPCR and the Directorate of Education will also work towards the formulation and adaptation of school drug policy to set normative values and expectations for student behavior as well as to document procedures for dealing with drug-related incidents in schools. The bodies will also focus on capacity building of counselors, nodal officers of Prahari clubs, health system and other actors is recommended for creating a cadre of human resource to effectively respond to the problem.
Next, the Directorate of Social Welfare, in 30 days, is to create and submit an effective plan of action to the Commission for targeted sustainable drug demand reduction programmes among children with the engagement of stakeholders and submit to the Commission. Along with this, the Goa police and Food and Drug Administration has been suggested to ensure that greater education about harms associated with vaping is spread among children as they become soft targets and there is an incremental upsurge in usage of e- cigarettes and vapes among children, with added flavors and attractive designs.
More intensive monitoring and enforcement of the ban as per the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act 2019 to assist in reducing uptake in children has also been recommended to the bodies to be taken up in 30 days.
