Itanagar, Dec 20: A meeting of the District Level NCORD Committee of Capital Itanagar was convened today by Deputy Commissioner Talo Potom, with all the stakeholders. A detailed discussion was held on ways to stop drug menace especially on issues  like drug trafficking, awareness generation  in schools and colleges etc.
The DC said that it is necessary to identify drug addicts and for this he requested all concerned especially Police, DMO, CDPOs, DDSE, OWA and others to make necessary efforts through AWWs, ASHAs etc.
He said that the drug de addiction centre at Lekhi will become functional soon which would cater to 50 patients at a time. The ADC Capital Jiken Bomjen also said that coordinated effort from all concerned including public is required to fight the drug menace. He stressed that people should accept addicts into  society to help them get over social stigma to avoid relapse.
ASP Capital Thutan Jamba informed that Capital Police is making every effort to deal with drug menace including regular awareness campaign.
He informed that a total of 60 cases have been registered in the Capital from January to December 15 this year and a total of 127 arrests have been made so far. He also informed that around 722.102kgs of Ganja, 1.355 kgs and 221.21(with vials) of Heroin and 113.979 HM and 136gm(with vial) of brown sugar have been seized by Capital Police.
CEO Smart City Dahey Sangno said that crimes and drug addiction is related and hence an approach has to be adopted to identify colonies, parents and friend circles of drug addicts and to check the supply chain to the target groups as few items like brown sugar are readily available.
DMO Dr Mandip Perme said that drug addiction can be treated and many efforts are being made to treat them including setting up of an OST CENTRE ( Opioid Substitution Therapy )  under NACO( National Aids Control Program) at UPHC Itafort.
SD Loda social activist stressed that not just the drug addicts but all those involved right from peddler to seller to consumer should be arrested.
He also stressed that government should come out with reformative theory policy and work on providing sufficient numbers of rehabilitation centres for reformation.
Earlier, Oli Koyu, State Nodal Officer Narcotics Control Board while throwing light on the programs and policies of the government to control the menace of drug, said that social acceptance of a drug addict is the most important thing to help a person recover. He also urged all to check illegal cultivation of opium, Cannabis etc as a social responsibility and that community mobilisation is the most important  tool against drug addiction. Also, the stigma attached with a drug addict always comes in the way of recovery as seen with the high percentage of relapse and urged the parents/ guardians to move beyond the stigma and provide  all the required support to those under rehabilitation or recovery. 
He highlighted that even successful countries like US and UK have less than 25% recovery rates and hence a coordinated effort is required to fight the drug menace.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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