16-05-2025
Production workshop to raise awareness about drug addiction among youth
Arrupe Sugalayam, attached to St. Joseph's College in Tiruchi, is hosting a theatre workshop featuring 21 amateur artistes to raise awareness about drug addiction among young people in schools and colleges.
As part of the May 8-22 outreach activity, a troupe called 'Nalam Naadi' has been formed with students from Chennai, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli, and other cities, under the guidance of Tamil film actor N. Shanmuga Raja, who is the workshop director.
'Our initial performances will be held on May 21 and 22 at St. Joseph's College, following which we plan to organise at least 150 shows in schools and colleges across the city. Several more performances will be held in other districts,' Mr. Shanmuga Raja told The Hindu on Friday.
Substance abuse had emerged as a silent social problem among children, said workshop facilitator Fr. Francis Jayapathy.
'The toilets of schools and colleges are littered with discarded packets of smokeless tobacco products. The consumption is all in the shadows, right under the nose of the grown-ups. Teachers and institution administrators are unprepared to deal with the issue of addiction among students. Earlier, alcoholism was a huge problem, and it was easy to spot. However, children have got hooked to products whose effects are not outwardly visible. This is why we have to train educators to spot the symptoms, and take the required steps because they lack scientific and experiential knowledge about addiction,' he said.
Fr. Jayapathy and Mr. Shanmuga Raja have collaborated in amateur Tamil plays Thotta Pudi Saami and Thanthai Pol Iruppavan, about alcoholism in the coastal communities of Tamil Nadu.
'We are training the students in stagecraft, dance, and other aspects, to create an effective drama. Our daily sessions include interactions with people who have recovered from addiction. We will be holding the play in an open-air theatre format, with minimal props,' said Mr. Shanmuga Raja.
