Srinagar: Mental Health and Neurosciences Institute Kashmir (IMHANS-K), Psychiatry Department, Government Medical College Srinagar on Wednesday organized a series of awareness programs and educational programs in Kashmir to increase awareness about drug abuse and illegal smuggling. This initiative was part of the global campaign associated with this year’s theme: “Break bicycles.
The main program was organized in IMHANS-K in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board. It included a workshop for the Imams and Katebes, along with around 30 participants, focusing on the role of religious leaders in preventing drug abuse.
Distributing welcome address, Dr. Yasir Hasan, rather than Professor and head in charge of D-Ediction services in IMHANS-K expressed concern over the dangerous increase in the use of matter in the area. He said, “There is an immediate need for collective and community-based interventions. R
Dr. Arshad Hussain, Professor and Head of the Unit in IMHANS-K spoke about the preventive strength of faith in his main address.
Dr. Arshad Hussain, Professor and Head of the Unit in IMHANS-K, stated that confidence could play a strong role in preventing drug use. In his major note address, he said that trust-based intervention can keep our children away from substances and serve as a malignant preventive strategy. He urged the Imams and Khetebes to use his Pulpits, especially Friday’s teachings, to spread the messages of a drug-free lifestyle.
Dr, Assistant Professor and DM in Ediction Medicine at IMHANS-K. Fazal Rabb played an important role, Vishwas leaders can reduce the stigma around prevention, initial intervention and addiction. Mr. Salim, a trained counselor, also presented a session on current trends in the use of matter for intervention and community-based strategies. IMHANS-K also extended its outreach through several parallel events in the valley.
In another major outreach initiative, IMhans-K. Heena Afzal and Dr. Syed Mehvish Yawar collaborated with Srinagar Police to operate an interactive workshop in Broadway Education Hub. The session targeted students with 9th to 12th grade as well as UPSC aspirations, and focus on the importance of initial awareness and prevention.
In another such session, Assistant Professor Dr. Sajid Mohammed represented the institute at an event organized by AMT School at Government Medical College Srinagar, where he discussed the current drug addiction landscape in Kashmir.
Dr. Ajaz Ahmed Suhaf and Dr. Ubaidullah, both Assistant Professors participated in awareness programs at B.Ed College, Srinagar and Central University of Kashmir respectively, providing joint lectures on youth engagement and prevention strategies.
In Islamia College, Srinagar, Dr. Mary Zahur, senior resident in IMHANS-K, addressed the students under the NSS Wing of the college. He talked about psychological and social tolls of drug abuse.
The organizers said that the purpose of day-to-day events was not only for awareness but also to catalyzed the coordinated response to confident institutions, educational bodies and the public to collectively deal with the problem of growing drugs of the region.