GUWAHATI, June 26 - Along with the rest of the country, Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) in association with Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centre of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital observed International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the GMCH today.
The theme of this year is �Listen First - Listening to children and youths is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe.�
Welcoming the participants that comprised of injecting drug users (IDUs), police personnel, NGO representatives, etc., Project Director of ASACS Manvendra Pratap Singh said drug abuse especially amongst the youths has hit the society very hard.
�We all are responsible for this menace. Therefore, we all need to wake up and fight against it,� he said. He spoke about the OST Centres at GMCH and Diphu Civil Hospital where IDUs are administered drugs orally to minimise the injecting habits that often lead to HIV transmission.
HoD of Psychiatric Department, GMCH, Dr HR Phukon said, �In Assam, 40 to 50 per cent of people are alcohol addicts, 30 to 40 per cent are opium addicts, 2 to 3 per cent are heroin addicts and 10 to 20 per cent use inhaling drugs.�
Speaking on the occasion, film personality Kopil Bora said, �There are various types of addictions and amongst them, the best addiction is the work addiction.� He said even amongst the artiste fraternity, there is a belief that only by taking alcohol and other intoxicating substances one can become better artiste, which is not true.
�Guardians must keep an eye on their children and if any kind of abnormal behaviour is noticed, they should immediately blow the whistle,� noted actress Chetana Das said.
Principal of GMCH Dr AK Adhikari expressed concern at the rising IDU cases.
�Many of the accident cases that come to GMCH are related to drug abuse. There were times when pan shop owners refused to sell intoxicating products to minors. But now, they don't hesitate to sell those products to minors,� GMCH Superintendent Dr Ramen Talukdar said.
Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Mukul Gogoi said there is an onslaught of drugs in the region and stressed promoting healthy living among youths.
