Meghalaya: Anti-drugs campaign launched in West Garo Hills

A One Day Training of Master Volunteers under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan was held at the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Hall, West Garo Hills, Tura on November 24, 2020.

District Social Welfare organised the programme in collaboration with the Medical department, Police department and DLSA, West Garo Hills, Tura.

Deputy Commissioner West Garo Hills Ram Singh said it is an ambitious programme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, which aims to curb the menace of drug addiction in the society.

He also stated that the drugs and other intoxicants pose a serious problem in a person’s life and career with dangerous consequences which affect the families and society.

Dr Bollen Sangma, a psychiatrist at Tura Civil Hospital said drug abuse is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease, characterised by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences which are becoming one of the biggest social problems threatening individuals, families and the community at large.

On the adolescent drug use, he said that “it impacts directly on the academic achievement which is why there is a high school dropout rate and it also starts early sexual initiation which again is a reason for the rise in teenage pregnancies,” he added.

The training program will also be conducted on November 25, 2020, for the Government departments, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Faith-Based Organisations, Development Committees in the district to increase community participation and public cooperation for drug demand reduction.

(Edited by Ladiangti Rani)

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