(ANS – Mumbai) – A one-day training programme was organized jointly by Don Bosco Research Centre, Mumbai (DBRC) and Sree Narayana Guru (SNG) B. Ed College, Chembur on 29 November for the principals and teachers of Municipal Schools in M ward of the city on “Identification and prevention of substance abuse among school children”. It was a sequel to the series of “Teachers’ training programmes in identification and prevention of substance abuse among school children in Mumbai” initiated by DBRC.

More than 50 participants from Municipal schools across M ward attended the training. Mrs. Dakshayani Madangopal, CEO (DBRC), briefed the teachers on the rationale behind this initiative.

Ms. Sonali Gupta, clinical psychologist and a counsellor for students, pointed out that currently the vulnerability to substance addiction starts at an early age. It was therefore important to initiate talks about the ill-effects of substance abuse at a younger age at home as well as in schools before it became too late.

The speaker pointed out that some of the reasons for children taking to drugs were to experience pleasure, reduce academic stress, peer influence, loneliness, social exclusion, lack of love and care and living with a family of addicts. Signs and symptoms displayed were those of aggressive behaviour, poor academic performance and withdrawal from everyone. The consequences of substance abuse could lead to physical, psychological, neurological, emotional and interpersonal disorders eventually calling for medical help.

Talking on the preventive aspects, Mr. Swapnil Pange, psychologist and counsellor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), stressed the importance of not labelling the children. He spoke also of the importance of open communication, regular interaction, patience, and helping children to develop coping mechanisms to deal with academic stress. Replying to a participant’s viewpoint that unless the Government took stern action to deal with drug trafficking and initiated a movement to shut down drug manufacturing companies and various outlets selling drugs, the menace of substance abuse would continue to prevail, Mr. Swapnil responded that it was more important for teachers to educate and enable the children to think independently and to say “NO” to substance abuse rather than blame the government.

The message hammered out during the programme was that one cannot wait for the system to change but must act in a timely manner to help the children to stay away from drugs at any cost. In order to gauge the understanding acquired by the participants, a quiz was conducted at the end of the programme by Mrs. Hemalatha Anilkumar, consultant with DBRC, and Mrs. Dakshayani Madangopal. This interactive session stimulated quick responses from the participants. Post workshop feedback was also collected from the participants before the programme was wound up.

Published 04/12/2014