Taking the streets for a cause

On the International Day Against Drug Abuse on June 26, Panaji, Mapusa, Margao, Anjuna Beach and the Vasco Municipal Circle saw flash mobs, where volunteers spontaneously broke into dance performances, centering on the theme.
The event, organised by the Human Touch Foundation and the Narcotics Control Bureau, Goa Zone, along with Fr Agnel College, Pilar, saw volunteers holding placards with slogans such as 'Get high on life, not drugs’, 'Reach for the stars, not drugs', etc, as they tried to educate the audience gathered around them on the ill effects of drugs.
"More and more students and youngsters are getting acquainted with drug usage. Though some are introduced to drugs via friends or parties, there is a percentage that experiment out of sheer curiosity and get trapped," says Peter F Borges, founder of Human Touch, adding, "It's only in the past that drugs was associated with adults alone. They have now trickled down to teenagers. We have studied that teens are now even peddling drugs to earn a few bucks!”
He adds, “Most adolescents will never use drugs, but those who do are often struggling with poverty, violence, poor parenting, and engagement with peers at risk. Listen to the children and the youth to help them grow healthy and safe!”