category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU CHANDIGARH With the aim to make Chandigarh a drug free state, the city police is dedicatedly connecting with the residents to keep a tab on the drug suppliers, especially in the colonies. People must reach out to police every time they find a drug addict, a drug smuggler or a drug purchaser , Deepak Purohit (IPS), Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Chandigarh Police said on Sunday while addressing residents at EWS Colony Sector 25. As a part of its ongoing anti-drug campaign Drug-Free Chandigarh , the city based non-governmental organization (NGO) Joshi Foundation on Sunday organized an awareness session at EWS Colony Sector 25 so that the people, especially youth living in colonies, can stop the consumption of drugs. Residents of the colony, including women and children, gathered in a large number while many were seen even sitting on the floor. DIG Purohit further said that the Chandigarh police is already running a helpline number 112, to fight the drug menace and to make the city a drug-free zone and using the helpline number, people can tip off the police about drug smugglers so that strict action can be taken against them. Vineet Joshi, chairman of Joshi Foundation, said, Family plays a crucial role in raising their child and the family of the drug addict is the first person who should act wisely to control the addiction. The drug menace can be eradicated from society only with the collective efforts of family, society and government. As a society, people must get rid of taboos and must encourage addicts to join drug-rehabilitation centres so that they can get the required treatment. Also speaking on the occasion, Prof JS Thakur, from PGIMER s Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, said, Around 25 of youth in Chandigarh consumes tobacco but the young generation can be saved if their families will keep a strict watch on them. Drug abuse can be controlled by reducing drug supply, by reducing demand for drugs and by reducing the consumption of harmful drugs and its practices. (editor dailyworld.in)