Narcotics on campus: Students to undergo drug tests, says IG Temuri

Protection centres established for child abuse and harassment cases

ISLAMABAD: To tackle the rising issue of drugs on campus, the Islamabad Police has joined hands with teachers to administer drug tests to students suspected of using narcotics.

The aim of the initiative is to provide a timely examination and providing an intervention prior to the development of a possible addiction.

This was stated by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Sultan Azam Temuri while addressing a seminar on narcotics testing and child abuse at the Post Graduate College for Commerce in Sector H-8/4. The seminar’s themes were.

The IGP stated that some students do use narcotics and their guardians only discover it when they have already developed an addiction.

To get rid of this menace, Dr Temuri said, drug tests will be administered to students at an effective time to ensure that the habit is acknowledged early enough for their guardians to intervene and provide them with appropriate guidance.

The police chief further disclosed that they have started a campaign on educational institutions to create awareness amongst students about child abuse and the adverse affects of narcotics.

Teams of the Islamabad Police, he said, were delivering lectures in this regard at educational institutions.

Moreover, those found involved in supplying the drugs would face severe consequences.

He further stated that Islamabad police is committed to rooting out the menace of drug use at educational institutions to protect the future of the next generation.

Moreover, the IGP stated that a protection center has been established to counter crimes such as child abuse and sexual harassment and this center has established a separate helpline (8090) for assistance in violation cases which can be accessed through call or Short Messaging System (SMS).

He stated that the police will contact the victim for assistance within five to seven minutes after receiving such complaints while a team of lawyers, psychologists, doctors and legal advisers would be available to provide support at their door step.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2018.