Uttarakhand: Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar administered the oath to the medical officers and employees of the state for drug prevention.

Make a united effort to make the society drug-free, this was said by Health Secretary and Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Committee Project Director, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, on International Drug Prohibition Day, in the Directorate General of Health Services, officers and employees connected through physical and virtual medium from across the state. Said during the oath on de-addiction. The theme of this year’s International Day against Drug Abuse is People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention. Health Secretary gave information about the harm caused by drugs and how to remove it from the society and all the present guests were administered oath against drugs. The Health Secretary has appealed to them to stay away from drugs. Addiction is a slow poison, avoid yourself and keep your children safe as well. Don’t indulge in any sort of greed for drug smuggling.

During the programme, the Health Secretary said that the purpose of International Drug Prohibition Day is to save the lives of drug addicts especially the youth and to make people aware of drugs. He said that most of the victims of drug addiction are youth and due to addiction, they make their future directionless. The practice of injecting drugs has increased among many youths, due to which HIV has increased in the society. Infection is increasing continuously. That’s why it is very important for them to be aware only then they will be able to protect themselves from this bad habit.

Health Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar said that the Central Government has made arrangements for identification, treatment and rehabilitation of drug users under the Narcotics and Narcotics Act. Opioid substitution therapy (OST) is the prescribed treatment used to reduce opiate dependence. This cure for H.I.V. Reduces the risk of infection and its spread. It reduces the harm to the body from risky needle use and helps reduce drug cravings.

Officers including Director General of Health Dr. Vinita Shah, Director Dr. Saroj Naithani, Additional Project Director Dr. Ajay Kumar Nagarkar, Dr. Amit Shukla, Dr. Mayank Badola, Dr. Pakanj Kumar were present in the program.