By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With Meghalaya having to bear the brunt of drug abuse since yesteryears, the state government, in a groundbreaking decision in fight against the menace of drug abuse, released the Meghalaya Drug Abuse Prevention Policy 2020 besides launching the State Nasha Mukt Bharat Campaign on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla, said that as per the report published on the Magnitude of Substance Abuse in India 2019, the state’s current users of alcohol is 3.4 per cent, cannabis 1.68 per cent, opioid 6.34 per cent, sedatives 0.95 per cent, cocaine 0.05 per cent and inhalants 0.8 per cent.
“The districts of East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills have been identified as the districts most vulnerable in terms of substance abuse,” he said.
According to Shylla, to assess the gravity of the problem of substance use in the country, the Ministry of Social Justice has done a comprehensive national survey on extant pattern of substance abuse.
Shylla also said the Meghalaya Drug Abuse Prevention Policy 2020 will pave the way and give a direction in the battle against alcohol and drug abuse.
The minister informed that District Nasha Mukt committees constituted various districts will not only focus on institutional support but also on community outreach programmes in the identified districts.
“Besides, these committees will formulate plans to conduct awareness-generating programmes in schools and colleges, identify victims and users and referring them to rehabilitation centres or hospitals for counselling and treatment, monitoring of counselling and treatment facilities in the districts. Further, these committees will also conduct programmes for the service providers, increase community participation and public cooperation,” he said.
The policy focuses on prevention, treatment, aftercare, capacity building, research, drug supply reduction strategy, implementation & coordination and setting up of fast tract courts/special courts.
The drug-free India campaign, which was launched on August 14, will end on March 3, 2021.