Shocking 40,000 drug addicts in Sri Lanka - Nadesan

by Ananda KANNANGARA

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There are over a shocking 40,000 drug addicts in Sri Lanka according to statistics revealed by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, a former president of the Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association, Kumar Nadesan said yesterday. He said a largely contributory factor to youngsters getting involved in drug related activities was due to poverty in their families. He was speaking at the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program meeting, held in Colombo on Friday. Lions Club, District Co-Ordinator

S. Ramachandran presided.

Nadesan further said that disrupted educational careers, social and family problems together with unemployment problems were the other leading contributory factors to youth getting hooked to drug related activities.

He called upon the government and other organisations to take measures to rectify the problems faced by youngsters in the interest of having a drugs free generation in the country.

Nadesan further said that help from the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program for the Lions Club International 306 A-2 to organise an essay contest for school children on prevention of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS would be appreciated. Quoting a famous saying, "Prevention is better than cure", Nadesan said it was the duty of all citizens to educate the younger generation about the serious consequences of the drug menace and how to get rid of it for the betterment of their future. "Some influential persons are still engaged in drug trafficking on a large scale. I urge the law enforcement officers to deal with them irrespective of their positions," he said.

Colombo Plan, Secretary General Patricia Yoon-Moi said that the drug menace had become an international problem and all must get together to eliminate it for the sake of future generations. She said among the programs conducted by their organisation,

90 per cent programs are related to prevent drug abuse globally. Fr. Jude Bernard said that it was a pity that even children at the age of 14 years in Sri Lanka are addicted to dangerous drugs due to family disputes. He too called upon the government and other organisations to take immediate action to eradicate the drug menace from the country as it will help to check even criminal activities.