Manipur: In an effort to provide wider awareness about the menace of drug abuse, the district administration, Kamjong in collaboration with the District Social Welfare Office, Kamjong, organised a one-day training for master volunteers under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan at Nagaram Community Hall, Imphal East on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Rangnam Rang Peter expressed concern over the growing trend of drug abuse among the younger generation, especially adolescents and youths. She said even the number of female drug addicts is increasing with dangerous consequences, which affect families as well as society.
Kamjong being a border area is vulnerable to certain issues related to drug abuse. Therefore, it is the responsibility of everyone in the district to create awareness about the ill-effects of drug abuse by discouraging its use and urged everyone, especially the youth, to stay away from drugs, the DC said. Appreciating the role played by the youth and student bodies of the district in the fight against drug abuse, the DC urged the youth, especially the youth volunteers, to take forward the campaign against drugs as a lifelong mission. The Deputy Commissioner further said that the youth of the district, especially the volunteers, have to play an active role in the initiative to curb drug addiction in the society.
Additional Superintendent of Police Kamjong Okram Wangkhomba elaborated on the various types of drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, inhalants, etc. and highlighted the challenges faced by the police in curbing the supply and trafficking of drugs. He further said that buying “over the counter medicines” or medicines without the prescription of a medical officer is also considered a type of drug abuse. Kamjong Kesh Jayant, Project Director, IRCA said that ‘drug addiction is a disease and not a crime’, and explained how a youth can become a drug addict. He urged parents to recognize the changes in the behavior of children so that they can be prevented from drug abuse.
