By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 5: In what may be termed as alarming, the use of tobacco is highest at 96.4 per cent among schoolchildren in Meghalaya, followed by Nagaland at 95.8% and Sikkim at 93.1%.
This was brought to light by Dr Sandi Syiem, Director, SAN-KER, at an awareness programme against drug abuse organised by the Shillong All Faith Forum (SAFF) in collaboration with SAN-KER, on Tuesday.
He cited these alarming numbers in his presentation which also involved identifying addicts, intervention methods and breaking through feelings of denial while helping the patient recognise the adverse consequences of the disorder if not talked about and sought help.
The president of SAFF, Bishop Purely Lyngdoh, in his inaugural speech, stated that the body is a gift by the God, and it should not be messed with, with substance and the likes of it, for selfish reasons.
However, Dr Syiem called upon two recovering addicts who have been clean for about four years now to state their experiences, in a bid to establish that addiction is something that should not be looked down upon, but instead the society and community should give them the moral support, in their battle. Both of them, recovered in SAN-KER, while one started consuming cannabis at a tender age of 15, another one was an alcohol addict.
Establishing the importance of family and psychological intervention, two recovering addicts also spoke of their experiences in battling substance and alcohol addiction at SAN-KER, stating that the first step to getting better is to realising that there is a problem in the first place.
The Global Commission on Drug Policy declared the worldwide ‘War on Drugs’ a failure, as this pandemic cannot be fought by stick and stones, but with love, care and help.
The United Human Rights experts have called on the international community to bring an end to the so-called ‘war’ and instead focus on promoting drug policies that are firmly anchored on human rights.
Dr Syiem, citing this, stated that until and unless the othering of drug addicts does not stop and we do not treat it as something alien, we will not be able to achieve the set target.
“Why does drug and substance abuse come under Social Welfare and not the Health department? The Health department does not treat addicts. Until and unless we do not achieve this target, and the longer we are in denial that this is a disease, the more difficult it will be,” he added.
He also drew attention to the contradiction in the state government’s stance on addiction, pointing out the promotion of alcohol despite addressing substance abuse.
Stating that the government drew Rs 6 crore in revenue, during the 2020 pandemic, he stated that the government should stop promoting the alcohol industry.