AMADA observes International Day against drug abuse
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 26 2012:
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed today at Manipur Press Club under the aegis of the AMADA where Family Welfare Services Director Dr L Surchandra and AMADA president M Padmini Leima were the chief guest and president respectively.
NCB Regional Unit Imphal Superintendent RK Ibungosana, Manipur Olympic Association Secretary L Manglem and All Manipur Muslim Pangal Women Organisation president Anwari Nurjahan were also present as guests of honour.
Speaking on the occasion, AMADA executive member Bobo underscored the need to formulate a State police to deal with the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
To control drug abuse, illicit trafficking and rehabilitate habitual drugs abusers, the Government needs to formulate a comprehensive policy.
At present, 21 centres for rehabilitation of drug addicts are functioning under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Out of these 21 centres, 17 are equipped with 15 beds each while four are equipped with 30 beds each.
But these centre are too little and ill-equipped to cater to the needs and requirements of the drug abusers.
As such, all efforts to rehabilitate drug abusers and bring them back to the main stream often run into huge obstacles, Bobo asserted.
Despite this worrisome situation, the State Government has no plan or policy to rehabilitate the habitual drug abusers.
This is pathetic compared to Mizoram where its Government has set up a rehabilitation centre equipped with 300 beds in addition to the rehabilitation centres set up under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Though Bobo himself was once a habitual drug abuser for seven years, he had successfully gave up the habit and returned to the mainstream.
He further expressed deep concern over the rising number of drug abusers and expanding practice of poppy cultivation in Manipur during the last few years.
What is more worrying is extensive abuse of pharmaceutical drugs by youngsters.
A youth addicted to SP capsules is not satisfied even after consuming three strips in a single.
Very often, such addicts inject SP capsules directly after crushing the capsules.
This practice of injecting SP capsules raise the chances of HIV and Hepatitis C transmission.
Bobo also sought immediate attention of the Government towards large scale poppy cultivation in hill areas of the State.
The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was also observed at Kiyamba Ningshing Shanglen, Bishnupur.