More Goan eves, turninG into druG, alcohol addicts?
VIBHA VERMA vibha@ herald- goa. com
CANDOLIM: In what can be a forewarning of troubled times for Goan society,
female alcohol and drug users in Goa seem to be on the rise with the starting
point being mild ' Breezers' or even beers with low alcohol content.
Padmashree Father Joe Pereira, founder and managing trustee of Kripa Foundation
has expressed fears that women beginning with smaller doses of alcohol or drugs
are likely to turn into full blown addicts.
In an exclusive interview with Herald, Fr Pereira said not only women but
youth, in general including junior college students are enticed into drugs.
He expressed fears that if the illicit practice is not stopped, Goa will witness
rising HIV/ AIDS or hepatitis C cases as in the north east.
" There is a silent increase in the number of drug addicts among girls from Goa
and the north eastern states.
Like the north- east, the HIV/ AIDS or hepatitis C cases will sprout in the
coastal state," he warned.
Experts have found that the age group of female alcohol and drug abusers has
come down from earlier trend of 30s to 20s.
Fr Pereira said the age groups of alcohol and drugs abusers until some years
was in the late 30s.
The Kripa foundation runs a fellowship of addicts in the form of Narcotics
Anonymous. Fr Pereira, who established Kripa Foundation in 1981 in Mumbai, said
the alcohol and drugs scene in Goa is dangerous based on the number of cases he
has encountered till date.
" The girls and youngsters feel that sipping Breezers is not harmful.
They then start smoking and using weeds which these youngsters say is not
drugs, but in fact it is the start of consuming cannabis. This leads to
disaster," Fr Pereira explained.
He further explained that indulgence in the illicit act leads to promiscuous
behavior which results in contracting HIV/ AIDS. Fr Pereira has several people
under the ' recovery programme' who are patients of HIV/ AIDS because of their
indulgence in drugs.
http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=7%2f25%2f2012
