VISAKHAPATNAM: City police are providing counselling to drug users with the support of psychologists in bid to save their life. Earlier, cops identified over 250 youngsters who were using drugs including ganja.
Vizag city police launched the Marpu (change) programme a few months ago. It aimed at identifying drug users and giving counselling to them to change their lifestyle and preventing drug-related crimes in city.
Initially, Marpu was launched to counsel the rowdy-sheeters, but, later extended to cover the drug addicts.
Speaking to TOI, assistant commissioner of police, D Sravan Kumar said so far 254 people have been counselled. “Of them, around 10 per cent were drug addicts. Those who were counselled have stopped using the drugs,” he said, and added, “We will continue the Marpu programme to identify drug users and save their life.”
A counselling centre comprising one officer each from social welfare, police and medical and health departments has been set up in the city. The officers are assisted by a counsellor or a psychologist.
City police chief Manish Kumar Sinha said their teams have been nabbing ganja smugglers and suppliers in various parts of the city.
“Our aim is to break the supply chain between the ganja suppliers and users,” he added.
