Shillong: In a bid to combat the growing drug addiction problem in Meghalaya, a 50-bed de-addiction centre is being established at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in Meghalaya.
This initiative, undertaken as part of the Drug Reduction, Elimination, and Action Mission (DREAM), aims to create a drug-free state.
The centre, established with the support of the Central government, will offer state-of-the-art treatment facilities for individuals struggling with drug addiction and serve as a model for comprehensive rehabilitation initiatives.
Furthermore, the initiative fosters collaboration between deputy commissioners (DCs) and local business leaders to support the establishment and operation of rehabilitation centres.
As part of the DREAM initiative, the government intends to organize study visits to Punjab, a state that has demonstrated significant success in addressing its drug-related challenges.
The knowledge and best practices gained from these visits will be instrumental in informing and guiding Meghalaya’s efforts to combat drug abuse.
To ensure widespread impact, the state government is engaging faith leaders, allocating dedicated funds for prevention programs, supporting rehabilitation efforts, and implementing community outreach initiatives.
Officials believe this grassroots approach will cultivate long-term behavioural change and strengthen social support systems.
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The 2018-19 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-4) revealed a concerning statistic: 33.6% of adolescents aged 13-15 in Meghalaya smoke tobacco.
To address this issue, the ToFEI program, a collaborative effort between the Education and Health Departments, has reached over 4.9 lakh students across more than 8,000 schools, promoting healthier lifestyles and preventing harmful behaviours.
