By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 1: The battle against drugs has entered a new battlefield — the digital world; with experts and officials warning that while Meghalaya has not yet recorded cases of drug abuse linked to the Dark Web, the threat is real and growing fast, with online platforms increasingly serving as gateways to addiction.
The one-day workshop, themed ‘Digital Dangers: How Cyber Crime Fuels Drug Abuse’, was organised by the Social Welfare department, Government of Meghalaya, with support from the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). It was held in collaboration with the Drug Reduction, Elimination & Action Mission (DREAM), the Cyber Crime Division of Meghalaya Police, Dreamzware Software Solutions, Hyderabad, and Kripa Foundation.
Director and Joint Secretary of the Social Welfare department and Additional Mission Director of DREAM, Camelia Doreen Lyngwa, delivering the keynote address, highlighted the government’s determination to tackle the menace of substance abuse but warned that time is running out. Unless all stakeholders act together, she cautioned, Meghalaya risks “losing an entire generation of youth” to drugs.
The event saw strong participation from Principals, teachers, heads of departments, NGOs, counsellors, and parents. Technical sessions were conducted by Sub-Inspector Sylvester Chyne and forensic consultant Shreyas Muthye from the Cyber Crime Division of Meghalaya Police, and Nobarun Dey, technical director at Dreamzware Software Solutions.
Officials noted that young people today are not first encountering drugs on the streets but in digital spaces — from social media and online gaming platforms to encrypted apps where drug culture is glamorised, misinformation spreads unchecked, and access to illicit substances is only a click away. Experts also pointed to the darker psychological side of the internet, where isolation, cyberbullying, and addictive behaviour push many towards substance use as an escape.
The workshop’s objective was to arm teachers, parents, and community leaders with the tools to counter these risks through awareness, prevention, and digital vigilance. Healthy digital hygiene — safe online practices, cyber awareness, and responsible behaviour — was emphasised alongside the need for strong protective tools such as antivirus software and cybersecurity safeguards.
Participants also examined the role of the Dark Web in enabling cybercrime and its potential link with drug abuse. Through case studies, expert presentations, and interactive sessions, the deliberations reinforced a central message: the fight against drug abuse can no longer ignore the digital arena, and collective action is essential to shield Meghalaya’s youth from its growing threats.