Must protect future generations from drug addiction: Minister Pijush Hazarika

GUWAHATI: State Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Pijush Hazarika on Wednesday attended a special awareness meeting organized by the State Anti-Drug and Prevention Council on the occasion of International Overdose Awareness Day.

Speaking at the event as the chief guest, the minister said that overdose of drugs and drugs addiction can ruin life of not only the individuals, but also affect their families. According to available official figures, about 2,300 people died of drug overdoses in our country from 2017 to 2019. The minister said that the worst of these is the death of about 70 children aged 14 to 18 years.

"There is nothing more unbearable for parents than seeing their children dies of drug addiction before their eyes," Hazarika said. He also said that the State Government had been taking strong stance against illegal drugs and drug traffickers since the formation of the government under Himanta Biswa Sarma. He added, "The government will always take a tough stance against illegal drugs and we must all be vigilant to protect future generations from the poison of these drugs."

Speaking on formulating some policies to regulate rehabilitation centres for victims of drug addiction in the state, Hazarika said that these policies would help the rehabilitation centres to carry out their work smoothly. Each centre should have proper infrastructure, health facilities and necessary facilities for counseling while delivering their services for the victims of drug addiction. However, he also said that the government needed the help of the rehabilitation centres to make the victims overcome from the menace of drug addiction.

Seeing many youngsters who have been able to come out of drug addiction, participating in the event, the minister specially expressed his gratitude to them and all those who have been able to come out of the clutches of drugs in this way.

Director of Narcotic Control Bureau, Rakesh Chandra Shukla also spoke about the menace of drug overdose. Since 2001, International Overdose Awareness Day has been observed globally with the aim of showing sympathy to the families of drug addicts and creating a special awareness environment to rescue drug addicts from the hammer of drugs.

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