Early intervention and family support crucial in tackling drug abuse: Expert

SHILLONG, June 25: The importance of early intervention, family support, and community involvement in tackling substance abuse was emphasised during the observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, MIMHANS psychiatrist Dr W Shira outlined the devastating impact of addiction on individuals and their families. She noted that those suffering from severe addiction often lose focus on personal well-being and social responsibilities, sometimes resorting to illegal activities to sustain their dependency.
Dr Shira urged society to stop stigmatizing individuals with addiction, calling for them to be recognized as patients requiring medical care. She argued that rejection or imprisonment often worsens the condition by isolating users. Instead, she pointed to Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST), counseling, and strong community support as effective recovery tools.
The psychiatrist warned that recovery is increasingly difficult when addiction begins at a young age, as prolonged abuse causes significant brain changes. She identified denial as a major obstacle and urged families and traditional institutions to encourage early treatment.
The programme featured testimonies from recovering addicts. Bansuklang Lyngdoh shared how peer influence led to his addiction in 2012 and credited the Good Samaritan Society for his recovery. Another individual, Rajiv, described how alcoholism led to homelessness before counseling and rehabilitation helped him rebuild his life.
Chairman of the Good Samaritan Society, HS Suting, reported that the organization’s counseling centre at Khlieh Iewduh has assisted over 200 individuals since its launch last year. While 10 individuals have successfully completed rehabilitation and three have started their own businesses, Suting noted that five have relapsed. He identified the lack of employment as a major hurdle for those in recovery and welcomed the government’s proposal to establish a ‘Halfway Home’ for post-rehabilitation support.
Organised by the Good Samaritan Society with support from the Social Welfare Department, the program was held under the theme “Nashamukt Bharat Abhiyaan – Viksit Bharat Ki Pehchan.” The event concluded with a discussion involving community leaders, church elders, and teachers on local solutions to drug trafficking.