Dimapur, June 27 (EMN):Government departments and different organisations observed the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking across Nagaland on June 26.
Longleng: The District Police Force (DEF), Longleng observed the day by organising outreach programmes at various churches under Longleng town during the devotional Sunday service. The speakers spoke on the negative impact of drug abuse in the families and society, and the need of public awareness and encouragement for support from all sections of the society to fight the menace of drugs in the district.
Testimonies were given by recovering drug addicted persons and skits on "Say no to Drugs" were presented by Sunday school children.
The churches covered under the campaign were Police Baptist Church, Longleng Town Baptist Church, Ao Baptist Church, Lotha Baptist Church, Gorkha Baptist Church, St. Joseph Church, Revival Church, Konyak Baptist Church and Bhumnyu Baptist Church.
Programmes were also held at Tamlu Town Baptist Church, Tamlu Block and Bhumnyü Baptist Church, Bhumnyü village, Longleng sadar I, Longleng district.
A short programme was conducted at Bhumnyü Baptist Church where the keynote address was given by Dr. Imcharenla Longkumer, Dentist, RBSK, SHP. She highlighted that addiction is an illness that needs treatment and not punished or discriminated against. Painting competition was also organised in order to give a practical education about drug abuse and human trafficking, an update stated.
Community Health Centre (CHC) Tamlu, observed the day by conducting a focused awareness programme at Tamlu Town Baptist Church for youths and adolescents.
Dr. Banglau Phom, Medical Officer, CHC Tamlu highlighted the burden of drug abuse and illicit trafficking at global level and it’s link to terrorism, corruption and organized crimes and also gave insight about the ill effects of drug abuse at individual, family and community levels.
Zunheboto: Deputy Commissioner of Zunheboto, Rahul Bhanudas Mali said that the ultimate result of drug abuse is death, while speaking to the students of Government Higher Secondary School Zunheboto at Town Hall in Zunheboto. He also appealed to all the students to take a vow to always keep away from any kind of intoxicating substances and to always say no to drugs.
Earlier, DPO DAPCU Zunheboto, Hokishe Chophy, said that, the feelings of 'high' sensation on the use of any intoxicant is known as euphoria, which mentally drives you to experience it again and again, and leads you to become a chemically dependent person. This ultimately causes addiction, which he said the WHO has recognised as a disease.
In the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, the district committee (NCORD) headed by deputy commissioner is initiating awareness programmes in phases, which began from June 24, covering all schools and colleges in the district. In the first phase, the district committee covered ten schools and the remaining schools and colleges will be covered in the second phase, informed a source from the district administration, an update from DPRO Zunheboto informed.