Awareness held on drug abuse prevention
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 18 2016:
With increasing menace of drug abuse among the youth of the State, a one day State level awareness programme on drug abuse prevention, sponsored by the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi co-hosted by Manipur University and Department of University and Higher Education, Government of Manipur was conducted at the Indoor Stadium of DM College of Teacher Education, Imphal.
Commissioner (Higher and Technical Education), Govt of Manipur P Vaiphei graced as the Chief Guest and Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University (MU) Prof H Nandakumar Sarma was the functional president.
Joint Secretary (Training and Research) National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi Jaideep Singh Kochher and PRO Police Department RK Tutusana were the guests of honour.
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Students from different colleges and university took part in the State level awareness programme.
P Vaiphei stated that the increase of drug users in the State especially among the youths and students pose grave danger and organizing such awareness programme will help in the long run.
Dr M Sureshkumar a faculty member of Centre for Human Rights and Duties Education, MU said that the menace of drug abuse is like a natural calamity affecting every section of the society.
Preventive measures through awareness programme needs to be conducted among the masses at regular intervals.
Issues of drug addiction are a challenge to each and every State of the country, stated Jaideep Singh Kochher.
Substance abuse has affected the human rights in every aspect.
Preventing the youths by giving awareness on the side effects of drug addiction is one of the best weapons available to fight drug addiction, he added.
While RK Tutusana commented that the State faces two major issues of drug abuse.
Mass illicit cultivation of poppy plants in different hill districts and abuse of pharmaceutical drugs are the two problem faced by the State.
She further stated that all departments need to coordinate and work together for an alternative means of livelihood for villagers and farmer who are dependent economically on poppy cultivation.
Being a border State, Manipur is badly affected by other pseudoephedrine drugs, she added.
Resource persons of the technical session included Director of RRTC NE-1 Dr Jayanta Kumar, Senior Psychologist, District Hospital Bishnupur Dr Angomcha, Chief Functionary of Integrated Women and Children Development Centre Annie Mangsatabam, Dean of School of Social Sciences MU Prof L Lokendro and Director of Myanmar Studies and South east Asian Studies MU Prof W Nabakumar spoke and discussed on various topics of substance abuse and its prevention.