SHILLONG: The de-addiction centre at Mawdiangdiang, which is a public-private (PP) entity with Kripa Foundation, will cater to the needs of adolescents while other age groups will be subjected to the kind of support that will be required.
The centre is yet to be fully operational.
Speaking to reporters, Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla, said that the families of persons suffering from substance abuse should not feel embarrassed and come out publicly.
“People should not be reserved about it. Hiding the status of the substance abuse is not a solution,” he said. The minister emphasised that the police or local authorities should be informed about drug addiction in order to find a solution to it. ) Referring to the Meghalaya Drug Abuse Prevention Policy, 2020, passed by the Cabinet on March 12 this year, he said, “The purpose of this policy is to prevent the rise in drug addiction and reduction in the demand and supply of contraband. It (the policy) can be modified as per the need of time”.
In line with its mandate, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had conducted a national survey on ‘Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India’ through the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) AIIMS, New Delhi, in 2018.
The National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) in collaboration with the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, Regional Resource Training Centre Kohima (RRTC), Nagaland and research staff of Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, had collected data for the Northeastern region.
In Meghalaya, the sample survey was collected from East Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and West Garo Hills.
The policy showed that the current use of alcohol in Meghalaya is 3.4 per cent and dependence on alcohol is 0.9 per cent.
Meghalaya is ranked 12th amongst states with 1.68 per cent of current users and 0.15 per cent dependence. As for the use of sedatives, the percentage of Meghalaya users is 0.95 per cent, while the current use of cocaine in the state is 0.05 per cent.
