In an effort to provide extensive awareness about the menace of drug abuse, District Administration, Kamjong in collaboration with District Social Welfare Office, Kamjong on Monday organised a one-day training for Master Volunteers under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan at Nagaram Community Hall, Imphal East.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Rangnamei Rang Peter expressed distress over the rising trend of substance abuse among the younger generation, particularly the adolescents and the youth. Even the numbers of female drug users continue to rise with dangerous consequences which affect the families as well as the society, he added.
Kamjong, being a border area, is vulnerable to certain issues related to drug abuse. Hence, it is the responsibility of everyone in the district to create awareness about the ill-effects of substance abuse by discouraging its use and urged everyone, especially the youth, to stay away from drugs, the DC stated.
Appreciating the role taken by the youth and student bodies of the district in the fight against drug abuse, the DC urged the youth, particularly the young volunteers, to bring forth the anti-drug campaign as a lifelong mission. The Deputy Commissioner further stated that the youth in the district, particularly the volunteers, have to take an active role in the initiative to curb the menace of drug addiction in the society.
Additional SP, Kamjong Okram Wangkhomba, while explaining in detail about the different types of substance abuse such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, inhalants, etc., dwelled on the challenges faced by the police to curb the supply and trafficking of drugs. He further said that “over the counter medicines” or buying medicines without the prescription of a Medical Officer is also considered a type of substance abuse.
Project director, IRCA, Kamjong Ksh Jayenta while stating that ‘addiction is an illness and not a crime’, mentioned how a youth could become a drug user. He urged the parents to identify the behaviour change in children so as to prevent them from drug abuse.
CMO Kamjong PS Leishiwon also shared her experience in dealing with the changing trend of drug abuse in Kamjong district over the last few decades.
Earlier in the introductory speech, District Social Welfare Officer A Tamphasana Devi informed about the aims and objectives of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and the plans to conduct awareness generation programmes in the district with the support of the medical and police department.
The training programme, attended by around 50 volunteers along with DLOs of Kamjong district, was imparted by Secretary of New Lifeline Foundation Dr. L Pishak Singh as the resource person. Participation certificates were also handed over to the volunteers after the training.
