Imphal, June 20: The ever increasing problem of drug abuse, alcoholism and illicit trafficking and its associated crimes in Manipuri society can be dealt effectively not by beating up or threatening the addicts and the traffickers but only through rehabilitation and arrangement of alternative means of livelihood, according to experts.

Speaking at the inaugural function of the weeklong observance against drug abuse and illicit trafficking to be organised under the aegis of Committee on Anti-Drug and Alcohol (CADA) at Kangla Hall here today experts pointed out that the root cause of the problem should be understood and analysed first of all before dealing with the problem accordingly.

Instead of threatening the drug abusers, alcoholics and illicit traffickers, they should be rehabilitated and provided alternative means of livelihood, they observed.

The week-long observance is being organised ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which falls on June 26.MLA of Khurai Assembly Constituency Dr Ng Bijoy, Director of Health Services Dr Th Suresh and CADA president Keisham Ongbi Taruni Devi were respectively the chief guest, guest of honour and president of the inaugural function.

Dean of Students' Welfare, Manipur University Prof W Nabakumar and Associate Professor of Psychiatry Department RIMS Dr RK Lenin were among the resource persons who were present at the occasion.

Giving his observation on the issue, Prof Nabakumar said addiction to drug and alcohol among the youth is one of the main reasons for the stagnancy in all fronts in Manipuri society today.

How can a society ever progress when its youth, who are the future pillars, remain addicted to drug and alcohol with no hope for a bright future ?, he questioned.

There has to be a root cause for the problem and it is essential to find out this as a first step towards tackling the problem, he said, adding that instead of intimidating the drug addicts, alcoholics and illicit traffickers, they should be given proper advice and prevailed upon to give up their habit.

Apart from the social organisations working in this field, all the people should also extend their co-operation and support in this regard, he added.

On why the approach of anti-drug and alcohol is being directed among the youth mainly, Dr Lenin explained that the period of youth is not only vulnerable to addiction but the possibility of destroying their own lives due to addiction is very high as their reasoning power has not yet developed fully.

Some of the main reasons for young people getting into drug and alcohol in Manipur are lack of parental care of the children in their materialistic pursuits, prevalence of various social events, starting from marriage to cremation where consumption of wine is generally considered to be an acceptable social and traditional norm and lack of recreational facilities, Dr Lenin pointed out.

In his address as chief guest of the function, MLA Dr Ng Bijoy stressed on the need to work out an Action Plan to fight the menace of drug and alcoholism in Manipur.

This Action Plan should give ample scope for creating awareness among the people on the menace of drug abuse and alcoholism through various mass media like Shumang Leela, Drama, Cinema, etc and setting up a common forum like Manipur Anti-Drug Society (MADS) to tackle the problem.

Since there has been no let up to brewing of local wine despite the restriction imposed as many of the people who are in this business depend their livelihood on these activities, Bijoy also emphasised on providing an alternative means of livelihood for such people with the support of the Government as well.

The week-long observance of CADA would witnessed public meetings in different parts of the State and a motor cycle rally which would be flagged off from Khuman Lampak on June 26 to spread the message of 'a drug free society' to coincide with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

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