Mail News Service
Imphal, June 24 : Assam Rifles, Narcotics Control Bureau, Manipur University and eminent personalities of many government, non-government and private organizations have joined hands together to raise the awareness on the key issue of drug abuse in the state of Manipur.
To commemorate the ‘International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’, one day seminar is being organised by Headquarters 26 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of IGAR(S) on 26 June 2012 at Sangai Auditorium, Pallel. The seminar themed “Think Health – Not Drugs” is an earnest endeavour by the Assam Rifles in their commitment to the well being of the people of Manipur and their drive against drug abuse and illicit trafficking in Chandel district. The function will be presided over by Major General UK Gurung, YSM, IGAR(S).
The seminar not only seeks to generate awareness amongst the society but also arrive at concrete measures through the participation of NGOs like CoNE, SASO, CSD, ASHA working in the fields of de-addiction and rehabilitation of drug use; students from educational institutions of Chandel, Youth Clubs, Women Organisations, media personalities and the enforcement agencies. The seminar proceedings include talk on a wide range of informative and relevant topics by eminent speakers, as also sharing of real life experiences by those brave ones who have shunned drugs for their love for dear ones.
The objective of this healthy interaction is aimed at the establishment of sustainable, community-driven initiatives to address youth substance abuse; provide thrust to initiatives in the field of prevention, intervention, treatment programs and best practices that can be replicated in the region.
The state of Manipur being in proximity with the Golden Triangle is a major transit route for illicit illegal substances into India. The problem of drug abuse is widespread in Manipur and the society is still to reckon with the debilitating face of it. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) report of 2005, 28 percent of the population of Manipur are drug addicts, of who nearly half are injecting drug users (IDU). Cases of drug abuse is fast rising with 12 per cent of drug addicts in the age group till 15 years, 32 per cent in the age group of 16-25 years and 56 percent in the age group of 25-35 years. Manipur is considered as one of the most affected state in terms of drug related violence and crime. Hence, there is an urgent need to change the course of the present trends in drug use in the state and motivate the youth to join the main stream.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ar-drive-against-drug-abuse-and-illicit-trafficking/
