MENACE OF DRUG ABUSE IN PUNJAB-2017 {SEMINAR ON MENACE OF DRUG ABUSE IN PUNJAB-2017 } as was scheduled to be organized by the

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1 Page1 MENACE OF DRUG ABUSE IN PUNJAB-2017 {SEMINAR ON MENACE OF DRUG ABUSE IN PUNJAB-2017 } as was scheduled to be organized by the ON 21 st January 2017 at Amritsar, Punjab (INDIA) POSTPONED To, The all concerned! This is to be informed that, due to certain unavoidable circumstances, Seminar on Menace of Drug Abuse in Punjab-2017 which was scheduled to be held on 21 st January 2017 at Amritsar (Punjab) has been POSTPONED. Sooner information is to be given on new date/developments. -Organizing Secretariat-'Seminar on Menace of Drug Abuse in Punjab-2017'

2 Page2 ABOUT AMRITSAR: THE HOST CITY OF THE SEMINAR Amritsar historically also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as Ambarsar, is a city in north-western part in India and the administrative headquarters of the Amritsar district located in the Majha region of the state of Punjab. According to the 2011 census, the population of Amritsar was 1,132,761. The city is situated 217 km (135 mi) northwest of state capital Chandigarh. It is near Pakistan, with the Wagah Border being only 28 km (17.4 mile) away. The nearest city is Lahore, the second largest city in Pakistan, located 50 km (31.1 mi) to the west. Amritsar is home to the Harmandir Sahib (commonly known as the Golden Temple), the spiritual and cultural centre for the Sikh religion. This important Sikh shrine attracts more visitors than the Taj Mahal with more than 100,000 visitors on weekdays alone and is the most popular destination for non-resident Indians (NRI) in the whole of India. The city also houses the Akal Takht, the highest seat of earthly authority of the Khalsa, and the committee responsible for the upkeep of Gurdwaras. The Ramtirth temple situated at Amritsar is believed to be the Ashram site of Maharishi Valmiki, the writer of Ramayana. According to the Hindu mythology, Goddess Sita gave birth to Lava and Kusha, sons of lord Rama at Ramtirth ashram. Large number of people visit Ramtirth temple at annual fair. Nearby cities to Amritsar, Lahore and Kasoor were said to be founded by Lava and Kusha, respectively. During Ashvamedha Yagna by Lord Rama, Lava and Kush captured the ritual horse and tied lord Hanuman to a tree near to today's Durgiana Temple. During Navratra festivities it is considered to be auspicious by Hindu population of the city to visit that temple. The main commercial activities of Amritsar include tourism, carpets and fabrics, farm produce, handicrafts, service trades, and light engineering. The city is known for its rich cuisine, and culture, and for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 under British Rule. Amritsar is home to Central Khalsa Orphanage, which was once home to Udham Singh, a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement. Gandhi Ground is the main sports complex in the city which is home to the Amritsar Games Association, (AGA).

3 Page3 INVITATION FROM ORGANIZING SECRETARIAT (Dr. Anil Pratap Singh, Gen. Secy.-GSA/Organizing Secy.-Seminar) GLOBAL SCIENCE ACADEMY (GSA): THE SEMINAR ORGANIZING AGENCY Global Science Academy (GSA) being a grassroots Indian NGO registered under Societies Registration Act 21 of 1860 in 1996 (No. 987/ ).Also, registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 1976 under its Section 6(1) (a) (No ) for accepting foreign contributions. Further, GSA is also registered under Income Tax Act of AA, using its Permanent Account Number (PAN): AAAAG2314C. In the past two decades, GSA whilst organizing such events towards wellness of the fellow citizen, was able to draw attention of President of India; ministers holding various portfolios; medical professionals, health workers, environmentalists, academicians, bureaucrats, media, higher education institutes, R&D organizations, medical establishments (-medical colleges/universities), publishers of journals, newsmagazines, newspapers etc. GSA organized several HIV/AIDS specific events supported by government of India, UN agencies and also made worthy representation at UN floor even at certain High-Level Meetings (HLMs). The proposed seminar will also bring together participation of aforesaid individuals and organizations in addition to others. GSA, by working at grassroots, globally recognized while addressing issues on Environment, Health including HIV/AIDS, women-empowerment along with other social development issues and has acclaimed expertise and competence on Millennium Development Goals. GSA having its vast experiences of convening spectrum of events on HIV/AIDS and allied issues.

4 Page4 PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE & OBJECTIVES OF THE SEMINAR Drug abuse is universal phenomenon across the continents. Conversely, in India, there is protracted history of use of opium and cannabis. But, nowadays drugs reminiscent of heroin, cocaine, amphetamine type stimulants as well as pharmaceutical compounds are being taken at large by drug abusers. Also, in the country, there is substantial number of drug addicts injecting pharmaceutical drugs, the behavior which leads towards increasing HIV prevalence coupled with other tribulations. The curse of drug abuse ruins each and every facets of one s life be it physical well-being, finances, family or societal life, occupation etc. This also ushered violence, accidents and even suicides. Impact of drug abuse is high on women due to many varied reasons. Consequently, comprehensive bio-psycho-social approach necessitated to deal with the problem of drug abuse. As per one of the reliable data sources, the problem of drug addiction is highly grim in Border States such as Punjab, Rajasthan, north-east states as well as in mega cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai etc. Unemployment and frustrated economic expectations are amongst the prime reasons for drug addiction in Punjab. There is also the fact that pharmaceuticals such as pain relieving opioids and sedatives are effortlessly available from chemists; either by misuse of doctors prescriptions or even without prescriptions. Some recent studies suggest that in Punjab, those who indulged in drug addiction are belonging to most productive age group (18-30 years of age) and many of them had also been injecting drugs for more than three-four years. Majority of them were dependent on injecting pharmaceutical preparations like buprenorphine, pentazocine and a variety of sedatives which included pheniramine, diazepam, promethazine etc.; having episodes daily and even multiple times. Relying on surveillance exercise of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), it is evident that, in India, Injecting Drug Use (IDU) came out as one of the most vital route in the HIV transmission. Punjab has considerable number of HIV-infected people amongst Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) and some of them are also sufferers of other blood borne infections. Through legislation there is prohibition of consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs which are injurious to health, except medical rationales. Various laws to control illegitimate use of drugs have been enacted in the nation state. The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act-1985, provisions for the control and regulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, entail apt provisions for administrative action.

5 Page5 Behavioral and biomedical interventions have been implemented by the government through non-government organizations (NGOs) to combat the problem. During past several years, Organizing Secretary of the seminar and chief functionary of GSA, evaluated several NACO supported projects, across the country, as being implemented by NGOs which also included most of the targeted intervention (TI) projects amongst IDUs in Punjab and deeply familiar with drug abuse scenario in the state. And, due to current state of affairs, acclaiming towards necessity of gigantic deliberations in this regard. Realizing earnestness of the problem of drug abuse in Punjab and many varied dreadful consequences, the Global science Academy (GSA), is going to organize State Level Seminar on Menace of Drug Abuse in Punjab Prior to convening the main event (-Seminar), GSA planned to organize events like debate, quiz competitions in schools and colleges of Punjab as well as one pre-consultation workshop at a medical college of eminence in Punjab so that the event could be benefited at large by capturing voices from all possible stakeholders in the state and the seminar organizing agency- GSA, is sure that the same would be depicting the complete sketch of the issue, in order to be resolved, by policy/decision makers, after having got recommendations - intended to be thoroughly captured as outcome of the seminar as well as resulting through series of activities, as planned. The proposed seminar will also bring together participation of aforesaid individuals and organization. Moreover, non-resident Indians (NRIs) from the state would also be encouraged to attend the event not only in order to understand the painful issue of drug abuse in Punjab but also to ascertain their probable roles that how they could be instrumental in solving the problem of their brothers and sisters residing over here. The key objective of the seminar is to bring together participation of diverse sections of the society either effected or affected by the staid dilemma of drug abuse in Punjab. Moreover, key stakeholders from a wide variety of interests in context of the theme core theme of proposed activity would be exploring the possibilities to solve the problems of drug additions and the seminar will create a forum for discussion, and also intends to create conditions for real breakthrough in present grievous situation of the menace of drug abuse. It also aims to widely disseminate the recommendations of the seminar for fruitful and meaningful implementation of programmes to cope with the problem.

6 Page6 Page6 TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED IN TECHNICAL SESSIONS: Topics proposed to be discussed in the technical sessions will include: i) Drug Abuse: A Major Public Health Problem in Punjab ii) iii) iv) Drug Abuse in Punjab: the role of government, scientists, academicians, medicos, social scientists, NRIs and conscious citizen Recent Trend and Extent of Drug Abuse in Punjab Success (and/or collapse) of enacted laws to control illicit use of drugs in Punjab v) Significance of government supported biomedical and behavioural interventions as implemented through Non government Organizations (NGOs). vi) Injecting Drug Use (IDU) and HIV-prevention programmes in Punjab: Role of NGOs and government/private linkages (ICTC, OST, DOT, ART, Drug De-addiction Centers etc.) SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACT: You can submit your abstracts (not more than two) by attachment to: punjabdrugabuse2017@gmail.com &/OR globalaps@rediffmail.com. Please mention Drug Abuse in Punjab-2017 in the space provided for Subject while submitting the abstract(s). While submitting your abstract, please adhere to following: a) Individual author can submit a maximum of two abstracts only, b) Abstract should not exceed one page in length. Use font size 12 in Times New Roman, c) Use single spacing throughout not exceeding 300 words including title, name(s) of author(s) and affiliation(s). Make title as concise as possible, d) Indicate by (*) presenting author(s), e) Indicate four keywords describing key advances identified, f) Abstracts should be sent along with contact details of Author(s).

7 Page7 Page7 MEDIA INVOLVEMENT These series of events as well as grand event (SEMINAR) will be covered by international, national and local media both from electronic as well as print as our news covered several times in the past. Also, GSA has announced its several health events in past through hundreds of internet announcement forum and will largely be disseminated this time as well. In addition to these, we are airing the same at our organizational website: Moreover, organization s GSA Newsletter will be carrying above events information/recommendations. It is worthwhile to mention that Press Conference was held in this regard by us to announce the above mentioned series of events (to be concluded by convening the seminar) at Press Club, Jalandhar (Punjab) and widely published/aired by print and electronic media. We anticipate an engaging technical programme and look forward to your valued participation and precious contribution. Dr. Anil Pratap Singh Secretary & CEO, GSA/ Organizing Secretary- Seminar Global Science Academy (GSA), Satyawanpury, Block Road, District: Basti (Uttar Pradesh) Tele-fax No.: , Mobile No.: , ID: globalaps@rediffmail.com; punjabdrugabuse2017@gmail.com Website: & Ms. Rekha Rani GSA s Zonal Coordinator Punjab, Delhi & Haryana & Organizing Chairperson- Seminar on Drug Abuse in Punjab-2017 Dhoot Kalan, Hoshiarpur (Punjab) Mobile No.: punjabdrugabuse2017@gmail.com; kajalrekha43@gmail.com