Shillong: With drug menace becoming a rampant issue in Meghalaya, the directorate of social welfare released the Meghalaya Drug Abuse Prevention Policy 2020 and launched the State Nasha Mukt Bharat Campaign on Friday.
The event was attended by state social welfare minister Kyrmen Shylla along with commissioner secretary Sampath Kumar.
According to Shylla, to asses the magnitude of the problem of substance use in the country the Ministry of Social Justice has done a comprehensive National Survey on Extant and Pattern of Substance Use.
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As per Survey report, in Meghalaya cannabis Users is 1.68% and dependence is 0.15% Opioids Users is 6.34 % and dependence is 0.75% Sedatives Users is 0.95% and dependence is 0.09 % Cocaine User is 0.05 % Dependence is 0.02% Amphetamine Types Stimulants is 0.05 Dependence is 0 % Inhalants is 0.08 % Dependence is 0.01 % People who injects drugs is 11420.
It is based on this survey that this campaign will be implemented in 272 districts which are identified as as most vulnerable in terms of substance and alcohol abuse.
The campaign was already launched on August 14 and will end on March 31, 2021.
Shylla informed that in the state the identified districts are East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills.
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The campaign Will focus on awareness generation, higher educational institutions, universities campuses, schools, reaching out communities, counseling and treatment facilities in hospitals and rehabilitation centers and capacity building for service providers.
Shylla further added that the MDAPP 2020 will give a direction and way forward in the battle against alcohol and drug abuse.
The policy focuses on prevention, treatment, aftercare, capacity building, research, drug supply reduction strategy, implementation & coordination and setting up of fast tract courts/special courts.
