Ahata Waqar, Senior Citizens Council, Chanapora, on Saturday organised a drug abuse awareness workshop to sensitise people about the growing menace of substance abuse and the need for collective efforts to tackle the issue.
The programme was attended by senior citizens, social activists, students, youth and members of civil society.
Delivering the keynote address, renowned physician, author and scholar Dr Nissar Ahmad Bhat Trali described the rising incidence of drug addiction among youth as a matter of grave concern.
He said substance abuse had emerged as one of the biggest challenges confronting society and called upon parents, teachers, religious scholars, social organisations and government agencies to work together to combat the menace.
Dr Trali stressed the importance of promoting moral, educational and spiritual values among young people, encouraging healthy recreational activities and ensuring timely counselling and guidance.
He also highlighted the need to strengthen de-addiction, rehabilitation and counselling centres to help affected youth return to normal life.
Appreciating Ahata Waqar for organising the programme, Dr Trali called for intensified public awareness campaigns against drug abuse.
Referring to available reports, he said nearly 1.06 lakh children in Kashmir had reportedly fallen victim to drug addiction, describing the issue as a humanitarian crisis with far-reaching social consequences.
On the occasion, Mohammad Morifat Qadri, Editor-in-Chief of the Urdu daily Afaaq, was conferred with the “Sharaf-e-Waqar Award” in recognition of his contribution to raising public awareness against drug abuse and highlighting important social issues through responsible journalism.
Presenting the citation, Ahata Waqar Executive Member and Media Consultant Mushtaq Shah Mehram highlighted Qadri’s contributions to journalism, literature, social welfare and humanitarian work. He said Qadri had also played a significant role in preserving Kashmir’s culture and heritage while rendering distinguished services in print and electronic media for nearly three decades.
Geriatric expert Dr Saqiba Afzal spoke about the early warning signs of drug addiction and urged parents to closely monitor behavioural changes in their children to ensure timely intervention.
Students of Candid Higher Secondary School, Nowgam, participated in a debate on drug prevention, emphasising the role of youth in building a drug-free society. The students also pledged to spread awareness among their peers.
Chairman of Ahata Waqar, while welcoming the guests, called for united efforts to curb drug abuse.
The programme began with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Javed Ahmad Beigh, followed by Naat and Manqabat by Khazir Mohammad Trag and Qazi Abdul Rashid. The proceedings were conducted by Laila Sultan.
The workshop concluded with an appeal for sustained community participation, coordinated institutional efforts and continued public awareness initiatives to safeguard the younger generation from the harmful effects of drug addiction
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