Take courage to say no to drugs, survivor tells students
Talking of her personal struggle against drug addiction at the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking programme organised by the Mangaluru City Police in Town Hall, here on Thursday, Ms. Fernandes said she has gone through a lot of physical and mental pain post-stoppage of drug consumption. 'There is a lot of support. Take courage to say no [to drug consumption]. Do not go through the rough phase of drug consumption that we have gone through,' she advised the youth assembled for the programme.
Ms. Fernandes said she hailed from a conservative family. She completed her degree with distinction and moved out of Mangaluru for a job. She started with gateway drugs, namely cigarettes and alcohol, and then got addicted to multiple drugs. 'Most of the money I earned went to drug consumption, ' she said, adding that the drugs destroyed her life, and she reached a point where she had suicidal thoughts.
'Then my mother called me back. I went through a lot of mental and physical pain to reach this stage,' said Ms. Fernandes, who is eight months pregnant now. Ms. Fernandes said she is striving hard to bring back honour to her mother, who, along with her, faced stigma following drug consumption.
Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police, K. Arun, said it is school and college students who are largely victims of drug abuse. Asking parents and educational institutions not to attach stigma to drug addiction, Dr. Arun called upon institutions and individuals to work with the police in freeing Dakshina Kannada from narcotic drugs.
The anonymous complaint reporting portal of Mangaluru City Police can be used to report drug addicts and abuse in the district, he said.
Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan stated that the government will provide all necessary support for the fight against drug addiction. All efforts will be made to curtail the source of narcotic drug supply in the district, he said.
Vice-chancellor of Nitte (Deemed-to-be-University) M.S. Moodithaya, actor Roopesh Shetty and psychiatric social worker of K.S. Hegde Hospital, Agneita Iman, also spoke. Students of Nitte and the School of Social Work presented a street play related to drug abuse.
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