Consult experts to treat addicts : Social Welfare Director
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 07 2023:
While stating that addiction is a disease, Social Welfare Director Ngangom Uttam has appealed to all parents and people concerned to refrain from mistreating and ignoring drug addicts but help them in their rehabilitation by consulting with experts.
He made the remark during the 1st foundation day of Kanglei People Against Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (Kanglei PANAS) held at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul as chief guest.
At the observance, Ng Uttam continued that people getting addicted to drugs is a kind of disease which needs medical attention.
Saying that there are different types of addiction and it is not only th fault of the drug-users, the Social Welfare Director elaborated that there are many ways in which people could be influenced to take drugs such as peer pressure, family problems and the surrounding in which he or she is brought up.
He also stated there are drug addicts among the Government employees and assaulting or disdaining them (drug users) will not solve the problems.
Further stating that only building awareness about the impact of drug addictions is not enough to solve the problem, he elaborated that demand, supply and harm reductions are three models to prevent addictions.
A collective effort of the Social Welfare Department, police and other law enforcing agencies and Health Department is needed to prevent misuse of drugs, he added.
Saying that the State Drug Policy which was introduced 15-20 years back laid emphasis on demand reduction, Ng Uttam added that a new policy has been drafted after taking suggestions from the people and stakeholders concerned.
A section of people want immediate actions against drug users but it is not possible as they also are entitled to different rights given by the Constitution and there is the law of the land, he added.
It is also equally important to understand how to treat drug users whilst at rehabilitation or de-addiction centres, he noted and added that non- attendance of drug-users families in the group counselling at rehabilitation or de-addiction centres is one big factor why they (drug users) take drugs again after their discharge.
Treatment and Rehabilitation of Users for Social Transformation (TRUST) has formulated a set of guidelines to be followed by rehabilitation and de-addiction centres and those found defying the rules will be closed, he informed.
Maintaining that drug menace has become a major problem in Manipur, he sought support from the people to make Manipur a drug free State.
Kanglei PANAS president Elangbam Ibempishak Leima, Kripa Society president Hijam Dinesh and AMADA former president L Tomba Meitei and former secretary Md Tajuddin also attended the programme.