Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 30: Mangaluru is known as an educational hub where several students from across the country come to pursue their dream of their future and get admitted to reputed institutions. Unfortunately, the youths indulge in drugs and unlawful activities due to wrong influences of people and fall victims to drugs.

On Tuesday, March 28, Mangaluru Police raided Saibeen complex and seized e-cigarettes valued at more than Rs 6 lacs. The reason for the raid is e-cigarettes have been banned by central government in 2019.

E-cigarettes functions with the help of coil that is attached to a battery which burns nicotine liquid (vanila, grapes, ice etc) and different flavoured liquid and smoke oozes out. Generally, when people smoke cigarettes it is accompanied by bad smell due to burning of tobacco. However, youngsters get attracted to e-cigarettes because of its different flavours.

Gateway Drugs

There is a need to curb youths from entering into gateway drugs. Today organising or attending parties is common. Soon the curiosity level of students increases towards attending parties and their chances of getting started with alcohol and cigarettes is high as these are considered legal.

What is Gateway Drugs?

It is a legal drug which is allowed by the government such as cigarettes, alcohol and prescibed drugs which generate revenue to the government. Consuming alcohol, cigarettes becomes addictive and slowly the curiosty level increases towards drugs.

Control of Gateway Drugs

There must be an effective use of COTPA Act. Even though the Act has been introduced, it has not been implemented effectivly. There is a need to control selling loose cigarettes in the surroudings of educational institutions especially near higher primary schools.

The officials or authorities concerned need to monitor social media accounts of youths. If we deeply observe their accounts, some posts or reels might influence others to get into some of the activities that are illegal.

This initative should start from parents. Parents need to observe behaviourial changes, excessive spending of money and at the same time parents need to keep a track on where the children spending the money.

Hats off to Mangaluru City Police

Credit goes to Mangaluru city Police led by its Commissioner Kuldeep Jain on the successful raids on E-cigarette at Saibeen complex worth Rs 6 lacs. Even Superintendent of Police Dr Vikram Amate raided a shop and seized 52 E-cigarettes.

But there are chances that more such shops are into selling E-cigarettes and such raids will result in increase in demand for them and thus its price. Police need to act swiftly to curb the selling of E-cigarettes in the district and save the younger generation.