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2 corporators demand more rehabilitation centres for young addicts

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Claiming that there has been a spurt in drug consumption among the city's youth, corporators have demanded that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) must set up rehabilitation centres to council addicts.
Two corporators have expressed concerns about school and college-goers forming a major chunk of the youth who are getting increasingly addicted to drugs. Both have moved notices of motion to this effect.

BMC should rope in counsellors
In their notices which are scheduled to be discussed this month during BMC's general body meetings, Samajwadi corporator Ashraf Azmi has demanded rehabilitation centres for children along the lines of a centre of excellence at KEM Hospital. On the other hand, Congress corporator Priyatama Sawant wants the civic body take the help of counselors.

School, college students more susceptible
Sawant feels that more youngsters are falling prey to the drug menace because it is available freely. This she attributed to several suppliers who are active in Mumbai. She added that said children from economically poor backgrounds are often found consuming Mephedrone (MD). "Even school-going children are vulnerable as drugs are being sold outside premises of educational institutes," she claimed.

Need more centres for poor
The BMC has two rehab centres, one at KEM and another in an Andheri hospital. "But these two centres are not enough to tackle the problem. Such centres must be set up across all healthcare facilities, especially for those from poorer sections, who are more vulnerable to getting addicted," the SP corporator said.
Kurla corporator Azmi said the drug menace is gripping youngsters badly, and yet there is no record of those dealing with addiction available with any governing agency. If the BMC forms centres to enlighten children against drugs, it can help in creating a database and thereby decide on a plan of action to tackle the menace.

Civic officialspeak
When asked if the BMC can form centres across the city, civic officials reacted cautiously. "Let the House first clear it before it comes to us. Once those are approved in the form of resolutions, we will work out a plan accordingly," said an official on condition of anonymity.

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