Health university to launch campaign against drug abuse

The Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) has launched a campaign to put an end to drug abuse in colleges in the State through a strategy of prevention, early intervention, enforcement, and rehabilitation.

The campaign is with a mission to protect students from substance abuse through strict policies, awareness programmes, enforcement measures, and support systems while fostering a positive and healthy campus environment.

The primary objective is to establish a drug-free, healthy, and supportive environment in State’s colleges and schools, fostering student well-being, academic success, and social development.

Achieving this goal necessitates a coordinated approach involving students, college authorities, families, law enforcement, health professionals, student organisations, community groups, and the government, noted the senate meeting of the KUHS held on Saturday.

Key focus areas

The meeting listed a few key focus areas such as strict zero tolerance policy and fast-tracked corrective measures; declaration of campuses as drug-intolerant zones; awareness and educational initiatives; advanced campus surveillance and technology-based monitoring; ensuring active participation of families in drug prevention programmes; safeguards in on-campus and off-campus accommodations; alternative lifestyle programmes to engage students; and rehabilitation and support systems.

The action plan aims to create a sustainable approach to eliminating drug abuse in State’s colleges. A safe and drug-free academic environment can be fostered by combining policy enforcement, awareness, early intervention, rehabilitation, and stakeholder collaboration, the senate meeting pointed out.