Drugs users can be valuable assets of society: Ng Uttam
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 07 2023: Social Welfare director Ng Uttam said that drug addiction is a type of disorder but the drug addicts can be made valuable assets and resources through proper guidance and treatment with support of the society.

Speaking as chief guest of the inaugural session of a three-day capacity building programme for students and teachers under State Action Plan for Drug Reduction organised by Social Welfare Department in association with RK Sanatombi College of Education, here on Tuesday, Ng Uttam pointed out that Manipur used to be a transit route for drugs some years ago.

However, the situation has worsened with large scale illegal poppy plantation in the hills and clandestine drug manufacturing units set up in some parts of the state in the last 5-10 years.

Issue of drug and substance abuse first caught the public attention in the late 70s in Manipur during which wards of wealthier families were generally in the grip of drug addiction as not everybody could afford drugs.

On the contrary, drugs are available at cheaper rate today and people from different income groups are actively involving in drugs and substance abuse, he said.

Calling upon all concerned to join the fight against drug menace, he said that the department drafted Manipur State Policy on Psychoactive Substances 2019 and published the same next year.

Consequently, guidelines have also been framed to regulate de-addiction and rehabilitation centres to address the issues of profiteering by unregulated centres and to ensure proper care in these centres.

The department needs public support in implementing this policy and enforcing the guidelines, said the director.

Uttam also said that teachers in both schools and colleges need to understand the issues related with drugs so that students could be weaned away from substance abuse.

He also emphasised inclusion of chapters on drug issue in school syllabus.

The department, in coordination with education department, is planning to set up crisis intervention centres in every school and college to extend service to students found abusing drugs by contacting authority concerned and also take up necessary steps to minimise the impact of such situation among the students.

Moreover, the centre should provide right care and treatment to such user students by soliciting support from different stakeholders, the director stressed.

Uttam also spoke about the necessity of appointing counsellors in every school as corporal punishment has been banned.

Unfortunately, no school has such facility till date, which is unfortunate.

On the other hand, both school authority and local residents treat drug users in a distasteful manner.

People often see them as criminal.

One should understand that drug addiction is a type of disorder and the drug users should be given proper care and treatment, which could only be achieved after the society is sensitised on the issue.

Forced attempt to keep them in de-addiction or rehabilitation centre does not guarantee positive result.

In such a situation, counselling is necessary, he said and added that drug users, who are being seen as a liability, can be converted into valuable resources through right care and treatment.

The director also noted the high cost of keeping an addict in treatment centre, which many parents could not afford.

However, one should understand that the amount is more or less same with the cost of drugs used by their children, he pointed out while urging the family members of drug users to bear the cost, which ranges from Rs 3000 to Rs 8000 per month, for a better future of their children.

He appealed to the public not to hide when their family members start using drugs but consult the authority concerned for providing timely treatment.

He also urged school authorities to refrain from expelling drug user students'without giving them fair chance for recovering from the addiction.

RK Sanatombi Devi College of Education advisor Dr Kh Ajit presided over the inaugural session, which was also attended by Leirik Memorial Charitable Society vice-chairperson Thongram Asha and State Level Coordinating Agency director Dr A Jayantakumar as guests of honour.

In the technical session, Dr A Jayantakumar spoke on 'Substance use prevention education'; Anouba Mangai Trust Centre project coordinator cum vocational counsellor Koijam Kishorchand on 'Skill for drug education in schools'; and the centre's counsellor G Bishwanath on 'Recognising risks, being safe' as resource persons.

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