SHILLONG, Oct 8: Former Education Minister of Manipur, Dr. Thokchom Radheshyam Singh, has urged the youths to avoid drugs, emphasising that intelligence alone is not enough to face life’s challenges—emotional strength is equally important.
Addressing a one-day programme on Drug Abuse Prevention, organised by the Dean of Students Welfare Office, at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) here on Tuesday, Singh, a former IPS officer, encouraged students to engage in activities that promote well-being, such as reading, attending church and building strong friendships.
Sharing the findings from his research on drug addiction, Singh highlighted the need to be emotionally and mentally prepared to tackle life’s inevitable hurdles.
He then cited Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, as an example of someone who struggled with drugs due to a lack of preparedness for life’s challenges.
Singh also pointed out that many youths in America are drawn to drugs despite having material wealth, as they struggle to find peace and solace.
The former education minister also urged the youths to rise above these challenges, become “wonderful heroes,” and offer solutions to the problems in the Northeast.
East Khasi Hills Additional Deputy Commissioner Ronnie Wahlang, who also was part of the event, recalled a personal experience during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He shared a story about encountering a young drug user at Polo Hills who had been abandoned by his family.
Wahlang said despite the efforts to reunite the boy with his family, he was once again left alone after the passing of his mother and the neglect of his siblings.
Stressing the importance of love and compassion in helping those affected by drug abuse, Wahlang called on students to avoid stigmatising drug users and to offer moral and spiritual support to help them break free from addiction.
He emphasised that drug abuse is not just an individual problem but a societal one, urging society to take responsibility for supporting both drug users and their families.
“Drugs have never been a solution to any of the afflictions in life, and therefore, even the slightest of thought on the use of drugs to alleviate problems in life should never be an option,” the ADC added.
