Shillong, June 26: Meghalaya on Thursday reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to combating drug abuse, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma unveiling a comprehensive and visionary roadmap at the state-level observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Held at the State Convention Centre, the event, organized by the Social Welfare Department in collaboration with Meghalaya Police, Meghalaya AIDS Control Society, and the state’s flagship Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM), united leaders, frontline workers, and communities under the theme “Breaking the Chains: Prevention, Treatment and Recovery for All”.

In his keynote address, Chief Minister Sangma emphasized that the fight against drugs extends far beyond mere enforcement. “We cannot look at this as just a law enforcement issue. It is a public health, social, and developmental issue,” he asserted adding, “DREAM is our mission to fight this together — as a state, as a people.”

He outlined a multi-faceted approach involving robust health systems, extensive educational outreach, proactive youth engagement, and strong community partnerships to ensure holistic recovery for those battling addiction.

Highlighting the state’s significant strides in law enforcement, Chief Minister Sangma revealed impressive statistics. In the past three years, Meghalaya Police has seized over Rs. 1,000 crores worth of narcotics, including heroin, ganja, opium, and crystal meth. During this period, 1,031 drug cases have been filed, with over 422 already charge-sheeted.

To further strengthen this crackdown, specialized units like the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) are being bolstered, and cutting-edge tools such as drug scanners and highly trained canine squads are being introduced.

The Chief Minister also issued a heartfelt plea to every citizen – educators, community leaders, NGOs, and families – to actively participate in this crucial fight. “Let us not point fingers. Let us join hands,” he urged. “The youth of Meghalaya are our greatest asset, and we will not allow drugs to rob them of their future. We will fight this battle together — and we will win,” he asserted.

He then led the gathering in a solemn pledge as part of the National Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

The government’s flagship Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM) is a comprehensive, multi-sectoral initiative targeting both the supply and demand sides of substance abuse. Under DREAM, the government has committed Rs. 50 crores over five years to bolster rehabilitation centres, especially those run by faith-based and community-led organizations, with provisions for additional funding as needed. Through DREAM, the government is collaborating closely with village councils, youth clubs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and faith-based institutions to raise awareness, support treatment and rehabilitation, and ensure no one is left behind.

As part of DREAM’s community-based strategy, the government has also formalized a partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), a renowned national organization. This collaboration aims to develop customized toolkits and training modules for schools, teachers, local communities, and NGOs to cultivate an informed, drug-resilient society.

Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh, as Guest of Honour, lauded the Meghalaya Police for dedicating the ANTF exclusively to drug enforcement and highlighted the introduction of preventive-detention provisions under the NDPS Act for repeat traffickers. Calling for unwavering community solidarity, he declared, “We need every ward and every dorbar to become a nerve-centre of vigilance and compassion. This fight is not ‘us versus them’; it is ‘all of us versus drugs’.” He drew a parallel to Meghalaya’s resilience after the 1897 earthquake, urging communities to unite not just for enforcement but for healing.

Adding an expert perspective, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Pakha Tesia delivered a talk on “Understanding Addiction: From Triggers to Treatment”. He emphasized that addiction is a complex brain disorder requiring integrated care, stating, “Medication stabilises the brain, but counselling, life-skills training and family support complete the recovery circle.” He advocated for early intervention in schools and the expansion of community-run rehab facilities under DREAM.

One of the most poignant moments of the program was the heartfelt testimony of Isaac Surong, a young recovery champion. His moving story of overcoming childhood substance use and heroin addiction to reclaim his life through faith, support groups, and rehabilitation deeply impacted the audience.

A visibly moved Chief Minister Sangma commented, “Isaac’s story is one of hope, courage and the human spirit. We will continue to walk with him and others like him.”

The event also celebrated over 20 Recovery Champions who now serve as beacons of hope in their communities.

Community Champions and grassroots organizations, including Life Care Foundation, United A’chik Society for Serving and Building the Nation, Japang NGO, A’chik Baptist Krima IV (Tura), Ka Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei, and U-Matters Multipurpose Cooperative Society, were honored for their vital contributions to prevention, outreach, and rehabilitation efforts.

The program concluded with the felicitation of winners from various awareness-building activities, such as football and basketball tournaments and the Cycle Rally for Recovery, alongside musical performances, dramatic presentations, expert talks, and interactive sessions with youth and social workers.

Also Read: VPP-led KHADC Executive Committee admits facing challenges due to “lack of experience”

Also Watch

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub

Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub