By Our Reporter
Shillong, Jan 27: Addressing a gathering on the last day of the Umiam Youth Week on Saturday, KHADC CEM, Pyniaid Sing Syiem stressed the need for collective efforts to eliminate the problem of drugs and substance abuse in society.
“It is really sad that a large number of the youths are drug addicts. The problem of drug abuse among the youth is a major challenge of the society at present,” Syiem said.
He said that the problem of drug abuse is more like a pandemic since it has affected every village and locality in the state.
“Now it is the time to stand up and fight against this problem before it is too late,” adding that he has witnessed how the family members had to suffer if anyone from the family fell prey to drugs.
He suggested that various stakeholders including the traditional institutions and the citizens need to join hands to ensure that the state is free from the problem of drugs.
It may be mentioned that over 7 percent of the population of the state is drug addicts. As per official figures, of the total 35 lakh population in Meghalaya, over 2.5 lakh of them are drug addicts.
Among the 2.5 lakh drug addicts, 30,000 of them are women, as per official figures.
It may be mentioned the Meghalaya government had identified 12 to 15 localities in Shillong where the use of narcotics and injections was “very high”.
