Students sensitised on negative impacts of drugs

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 9 : Overcomers, an institute for treatment of substance abuse, organised an awareness programme on drug use and its related harm at the multipurpose hall of Naorem Birahari College at Khundrakpam today.
The programme was organised in association with Naorem Birahari College (NSS Unit 1, 2 and IQAC).
Organized under the sponsorship of the Department of Social Welfare, the programme was attended by faculty members, students, authorities of the college and representatives from  Overcomers.
Speaking at the event, Sagolsem Herojit, secretary of Overcomers, stressed on the harms of drug use.
Saying that substance abuse only affects the physical, mental and spiritual well being of an individual but also jeopardizes the potential and productivity of society, he stated that there are about 34344 intravenous drug users in Manipur as per a report published by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2019.
The number of drug addicts in Manipur may be more than one lakh if all forms of substance abuse is counted, he said and added that the number of drug users is likely to increase in Manipur due to cheap and easy availability of drugs.
Saying that a drug user spends most of his/her money in procuring drugs, Herojit said  that the money being spent by drug addicts in a year is in terms of crores of rupees.
The money, if used for a good cause, would contribute to betterment of society, he added.
Continuing that the ongoing  ethnic crisis in Manipur could also be linked with drug misuse, he added that it is the rapid increase in drug demand which led the drug mafia and certain people to indulge in large scale poppy cultivation and illicit drug trafficking.
Subsequently, the State Government’s strict policy against poppy cultivation and drug trade led to widespread resentment from a section of people indulging in the illegal activities, he added.
Addressing the function, Principal of Naorem Birahari College Dr Irom Kunjabati observed that holding such an awareness programme would impart crucial knowledge regarding harmful impacts of drug use to the participating students.
 The role of youths is crucial in building a drug free society, she said and expressed her gratitude to the Overcomers and the Department of Social Welfare for reaching out to the youth by organizing the valuable programme.