Role of society in rehabilitating drug users is paramount: Pramila Rani Brahma

A Correspondent

TANGLA: In a bid to fight against the menace of substance abuse, a day-long awareness programme on 'Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse' was held at Bordoloi Bhavan in Tangla town of Udalguri district on Saturday.

The event was hosted by Alayaran, a Kokrajhar-based NGO, in joint collaboration with Kokrajhar chapter of Social Welfare Department, Government of Assam, and Udalguri chapter of All Bodo Women's Forum (ABWF). The session was inaugurated by Udalguri Deputy Commissioner Prakash Ranjan Gharphalia.

State Social Welfare Minister Pramila Rani Brahma, while attending the awareness session, expressed grave concern over the current scenario on drug and alcohol threat and stressed the importance of understanding the psychology of teenage children. She also appealed to the students present to be sensible and to act responsibly towards mentally-ill persons and called for the need of conducting sensitization sessions in other parts of Assam, specifically the four districts of the Bodo belt - Udalguri, Chirang, Baksa and Kokrajhar – where there are reports of rampant abuse of drugs and alcohol among teenagers.

Brahma further reiterated the role played by the drugs and alcohol in the commission of crimes which is surging at an alarming rate in the nation. "From patricide, rapes and murder, range of crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol or drugs and hence there is need for counselling of drug addicts and everyone in the society must be stakeholders for the noble cause," she added.

Ratul Dey, counsellor of Nirmaan Rehabilitation Facility of Guwahati, spoke on length about substance abuse and his past experience as a drug abuser. Recalling his earlier plight, he said that the role of society in rehabilitating drug users was paramount. "Drug abusers get it from society itself. The same society at a point of time turns its back to a situation getting out of control. Everyone in society, including family, friends, administration and police must go hand-in-hand to tackle the drug menace. After all, a drug abuser is a part of society," Dey said.

Attending the programme, another counsellor, Sristi Brahma spoke about the role of teachers and government departments for an effective joint effort to end this social stigma.

Sahitya Akademi awardee Dr. Rita Boro lauded the efforts of the NGO and minister Brahma for personally attending the event to save the upcoming generation from the grip of drugs. The event was carried forward by various important topics such as understanding the psychology of teenage children, mental health in the current scenario, alcohol and drug abuse and preventive measures through slideshows.

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