SURREY – Drug abuse and deadly drug business became major concern both in the community and the country at large. In order to address this menace, prominent members from the local Sikh community, inlcuding drug counsellors, social activists, teachers, preachers and volunteers were concerned to stop the worst trend which was killing our youth these days.
A renowned Drug Therapist Dr. Raghbir Singh Bains brought together the representatives of various Gurdwaras and community activists’ at Surrey’s Indo-Canadian Seniors Centre on Monday, September 5.
Dr. Bains opened the meeting by stating that the latest drugs called Fentanyl and Carphentanyl are extremely strong and deadly. The killer drugs have victimized about 433 users in the first seven months of the year 2016 in British Columbia only. He stated that recent deaths and related health problems due to the use/misuse of the drugs have sent shock waves throughout every home and in the larger community. He mentioned that the main purpose of this gathering consisting of Gurdwara committees, social activists, drug counselors and well respected members of the community is to find solution to this problem so that our youth are saved from this scourge.
A number of speakers such as a renowned community activist Mota Singh Jheeta, drug therapist Gurdeep Singh Atwal, Gurdwara president Surinder Singh Jubbal, president Gian Singh Gill, president Harbhajan Singh Atwal, president Balbir Singh Nijjar, Balwant Singh Sanghera, Amrik Singh Nijjar and Jagtar Singh Sandhu came up with a variety of suggestions in order to address the issue of drug menace prevailing in the society.
Most of the speakers including Surrey-Delta Seniors Society president Harpal Singh Brar, members Kulwant Singh Kular, Dr Sohan Singh Dhillon, Chamkaur Singh, Harchand Singh, Gurmail Singh, Prem Singh, Hardev Singh, Rajinder Singh, Gurbachan Singh, Nachhattar Singh, Baldev Singh, Avtar Singh Brar, Gurnam Singh, Avtar Singh Dhillon and many others suggested that efforts be made to bring awareness in the community through education, awareness and prevention. Every speaker showed concern over brawls, fights, shootings, killings, domestic violence, separations, divorces, rapes, beatings, murders, thefts and shootings etc. Unanimously it was required of the youth, parents, socio-religious societies, police, administrators, politicos and justice system to act promptly to control the everyday worsening situation in the society as a result of drugs like opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine, smack, crack, fentanyl and carfentanyl.etc,
A number of speakers suggested the use of social media, internet, videos, electronic, print and other community outlets to reach out to our youth and others to refrain from using the aforesaid deadly drugs,. It was decided by the members present in the gathering to prepare and use suitable electronic and print material in many languages to send a strong message to the youth of the community in homes, educational institutions and at work places to stay away from the deadly menace of the drugs.
The meeting was adjourned with a positive note of full support by the socio-religio-cultural and volunteer organizations to end the drug menace prevailing in the society.
