Department of Extension Education and Services (DEEDS), Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Tirupattur, in collaboration with Don Bosco Social Action and Research Centre (DBSARC), Tiruvannamalai, successfully organized a One Day Training Programme on “Substance Abuse Disorder for Youth” under the BRAVE (Building Resilience And Vocational Excellence) Project. The programme commenced at 10.00 a.m. with registration and tea, followed by the invocation through Tamil Thai Vazhthu at 10.30 a.m. The formal welcome and honouring of the resource person was delivered by Rev. Dr. Shanmugam SDB, Director of DEEDS, who emphasized the importance of awareness and preventive education among youth regarding substance abuse. At 10.45 a.m., Mr. Ambrose, Coordinator of the BRAVE Project from DBSARC, provided an orientation to the participants, outlining the objectives and significance of the training programme.

The first session of the training began at 11.00 a.m. and was handled by Dr. Selvam, Director of Placement and Assistant Professor at Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur, who elaborated on the causes, consequences, and preventive strategies related to substance abuse. The session was highly interactive and informative, enabling participants to understand the psychological and social dimensions of addiction. A short break was given from 12.00 p.m. to 12.15 p.m. The second session resumed at 12.15 p.m., again led by Dr. Selvam, focusing on rehabilitation measures, coping mechanisms, and the role of community support systems in addressing substance abuse among youth. The participants actively engaged in discussions and clarified their doubts during the session. The programme concluded with lunch and followed by group photo at 1.30 p.m.