New Delhi: In a proactive initiative aimed at addressing the alarming rise of drug abuse among adolescents, the Delhi Police will now utilize parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) as a platform to educate and sensitize parents about the early warning signs of substance use in their children, an official announced on Monday.
This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Directorate of Education (DoE), seeks to establish a comprehensive awareness framework at both the school and community levels to combat the growing threat of narcotics among school-aged children.
The Delhi Police has already conducted training sessions for educators from participating schools, equipping them with the skills to identify behavioral indicators and psychological cues that may suggest drug use among students, particularly teenagers, according to a senior police officer.
“We recently partnered with the Directorate of Education to conduct a training session for teachers, helping them recognize early warning signs and behavioral changes in students who may be using drugs,” the officer stated.
Building on this foundation, the police will now focus on directly involving parents during PTMs, facilitating early intervention at the family level.
To further bolster this initiative, the Delhi Police is in advanced discussions with the de-addiction center at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to engage expert counselors.
“With the assistance of professional counselors from AIIMS, we plan to create concise, informative videos that illustrate the psychological and physical signs of drug use in adolescents. These videos will be presented during PTMs to ensure that the message reaches parents in an engaging and accessible format,” the officer explained.
The videos will serve as conversation starters between parents and teachers and will be tailored to highlight age-appropriate warning signs, fostering a collaborative approach to safeguarding the well-being of students.
The program is open to both government and private schools, with authorities aiming to expand it citywide in the coming months.
“This initiative will help bridge the gap between schools, families, and law enforcement, fostering a collaborative environment that enhances the protection of children against the increasing threat of substance abuse,” he stated.
