It has been observed not only just in India but also all across the globe that menace of drug abuse can only be tamed comprehensively if there is an active and engaged participation of the civil society. In Arunachal, it’s  an acknowledged reality that drugs and contraband substances are playing the roles of magnets which are gradually pulling the state’s youths in its vicious orbit. The fight against this bane is also on with administration playing their part, recently with commendable success. But, the overall fightback has thankfully received coordinated support from the always-awake community based organisations of the state, but for whom the picture would have been much distressing. A recent one that deserves admiration is that which has been undertaken by the Galo Youth Organization in collaboration with Arunachal Pradesh State Aids Control Society (APSACS) and state’s Drug De-addiction Cell. The idea is to spread the much needed awareness among the already addicted bunch and the future hapless ones about the serious after-effects of drugs. Effort like this is a real necessity and more of these are pursued, the more it will be better for the state to throw a solid challenge.

In this context it will not be irrelevant to say that campaigns like this and the similar ones go in tandem with the spirit of the recently launched ‘Hamara Arunachal Abhiyan’ which has championed the cause of public-police-administration partnership for keeping the law & order scenario and drug menace within desirable limits. It must also be acknowledged that police have responded more proactively and here also their success had been possible in many cases due to the invaluable tip-offs from the commoners who wish to see their state free from the menace. The state has actually seen two growths- one for the bad and the other dealing with the avenues of way-outs. If the districts namely Lohit, Namsai, Anjaw, Longding and Tirap have earned notoriety due to rampant growth of opium despite efforts to curb them, there will be instances of the valiant struggles of Women Against Social Evils(WASE), Mothers’ Vision  and others who work tirelessly on ground level. They have been instrumental in bringing so many victims from the clutches of drugs and prevented as many from falling prey, thus restoring smiles of the parents. On Monday itself, capital’s Dera Natung Government College has touched a very efficacious method of dealing with this overarching problem where music therapy will act as a solution  by organizing an awareness programme.

The way forward thus needs concerted efforts like all the above when each stakeholder, administration and civil society alike would play roles to the best of their abilities. It might be only then the menace can be crushed from Arunachal Pradesh.