Anti-drug awareness seminar held in Balachaur ahead of International Day
In a bid to raise awareness about the growing menace of drug abuse, the Red Cross Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA), Nawanshahr, organised an awareness seminar on Wednesday at the Sub-Division Hospital, Balachaur (SBS Nagar).
The seminar served as a precursor to the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, observed globally on June 26.
The event was chaired by Dr Gurmukh Singh, medical officer at the sub-division hospital, who lauded the efforts of IRCA for consistently reaching out to communities through such initiatives. The session witnessed active participation from medical professionals, frontline workers and volunteers, all unified in their commitment to spread awareness and promote prevention.
Delivering the keynote address, Chaman Singh, Project Director of IRCA, stressed the critical need for a collective fight against substance abuse. Quoting this year’s theme — “The evidence is clear: Invest in prevention — break the cycle, stop organised crime” — he underlined the devastating impact of drug addiction on individuals and society at large.
“Drug abuse doesn’t just affect the addict — it destroys families, fuels crime, and weakens the social fabric,” Singh said. “We are seeing a direct link between rising cases of theft, cheating, and domestic disputes with increasing drug use, particularly among the youth. It’s high time society steps in and contributes actively to prevention and rehabilitation.”
He further pointed out that despite stringent laws against drug trafficking, the illegal trade continues to flourish due to lack of awareness and community vigilance.
Singh urged residents, especially the youth, to stay informed and help others make healthy choices. He also emphasised that rehabilitation, support and education are most effective when the entire community takes responsibility.
Dr Sudesh Kumar, associate medical officer, also addressed the gathering and appreciated the IRCA team’s efforts in bringing the issue to the forefront. He said, “Creating awareness is the first step towards prevention. Unless we educate our youth and offer them alternatives, we cannot hope to curb this crisis.”
Other key attendees included Kamaljeet Kaur (Counselor, IRCA), Nirmal Singh (Block Facilitator Educator), Dilbag Singh (Health Inspector), Baljit Kaur (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) and Harmandeep Singh (Medical Lab Technician).
The seminar concluded with a call to action, encouraging all stakeholders—health professionals, educators, parents and local leaders—to join forces in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Jalandhar