Awareness meet at Anna Nagar Tower Park as culmination of a study on drug use among undergraduate students

On the evening of September 25 at the Anna Nagar Tower Park, Madras School of Social Work (MSSW), Egmore, in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chennai Zonal Unit, organised an Anti-Drug Awareness Programme . The programme was an extension of a study conducted by MSSW postgraduate students on drug use among undergraduate students in Chennai. The research revealed key concerns including peer pressure, easy accessibility of drugs, and social stigma, which continues to discourage students from seeking de-addiction support despite awareness of counselling services, says a press release. As part of the awareness drive, students performed a street play to spread messages about the dangers of substance abuse, the types of drugs commonly misused, and the availability of support systems for prevention and rehabilitation. The event featured Deepak Kaushik, Superintendent, NCB Chennai Zone, Jubin Sam, Sub-Inspector, NCB Chennai Zone, and Vaibhav Srivastava, Assistant Director, Southern Region, NCB Chennai, as chief guests, says the release. The programme was actively carried out by MSSW postgraduate (MSW) first year students: Abishiha Gracelyn Augustine, Epson Stanley D., Hephzibah.M.F, Jaishivani S., Jessica Gerad, Meghna S., Monisha George, Prathibha K., Yeshwanth Sowdesh S.P., under the guidance of Dr. Laavanya Vinayagaswami, Faculty Supervisor.