UDP calls for war against drugs

SHILLONG, Sep 15: Ringing the alarm bells on Meghalaya’s escalating drug crisis, the UDP has asked the government, church leaders, and pressure groups to join forces for a full-scale offensive against the drug cartels and peddlers to strike off this menace from the state.
Stating that the battle ahead will be long and arduous, but the fate of generations hangs in the balance, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh said, “The report which came out in the Assembly is frightening where it was mentions that there are over three lakh drug users in Meghalaya. This is a small state with a population of may be 37-38 lakhs and it is alarming that around 10% of the population do drugs.”
“If there are so many drug users it only means something is really wrong. We have to dig in deep to understand how to combat drugs which is destroying our youths and their families,” he added.
“We need to do things on a war footing. The government, society, religious bodies, community leaders, traditional institutions and pressure groups have to wake up to the reality,” he added.
Highlighting how drugs have penetrated all segments of the population, he said, “De-addiction and rehabilitation centres cost a lot of money. There are instances of people seeking financial help as they cannot afford rehabilitation centres for their children.”