Prof Heramani calls for eradicating drug abuse in State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 28 2017: Head of Department Psychiatry, RIMS, Professor Dr N Heramani has called upon the people for collective effort to eradicate the menace of drug and alcohol abuse in the State .

He was speaking as the chief guest at the opening function of "3 Days Residential Leadership Training Camp" organised by Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) at Social Workers' Congress (SWC), Khongman Zone IV-V, Imphal East today .

He noted that the primary step towards attempting to eliminate the menace of drug and alcohol abuse is recognising drug and alcohol abuse/addiction as a disease .

He asked the people to understand the disease and its natures in order to fight it together.

There are three stages of drug and alcohol addiction.

They are simple use (of drugs or alcohol), abuse and dependency.

Once a drug or alcohol user reaches the stage of dependency, he or she will need treatment as the person would face withdrawal symptoms.

In this stage, the person would be obsessed with the drugs, which is the nature of the disease, the Professor explained .

He elaborated that it is at this stage that the drug user would try to find his abusing substance through any means and often commit crimes .

People need to understand the effects of the disease and should mobilise and motivate the drug users to get treatment.

If the drug abusers are given a helping hand then the menace of drug in the society could be curbed or even eliminate it, he observed .

Asserting that the best way to curb drug abuse is to prevent children from introducing to any abusive substances during adolescent period, Heramani stated that the imperative role of parents in guiding their children towards the righteous path during the important period is of paramount importance .

He also stated that stopping the supply and demand of drugs are the other means to prevent the menace of drugs.

One of the main roles of medical professionals including doctors in eradicating drug menace is to give proper counselling and medical prescription to the drug abusers while the role of law enforcing agencies and civil society organizations like CADA is to check and control the supply of intoxicating substances, he continued .

The Professor also expressed unhappiness over the 'weak position' of the law enforcing agencies in the State in checking and controlling the supply of drugs and alcohol in the State despite having NDPS Act, 1985 .

The programme presided by Hijam Priyokumar, president in-charge, CADA was also attended by M Nungshirei, Pradhan, Khongman GP and Th Ramani, secretary general, All Manipur Women's Social Reformation & Development Samaj (NUPI SAMAJ) as the guests of honour.

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