Kohima, June 26 (IANS) Senior Naga leader and Advisor for Nagaland Social Welfare Department Wangpang Konyak has called upon churches, educational institutions, civil society organisations and community groups to play a proactive and coordinated role in combating the growing menace of substance abuse, stressing that protecting the younger generation requires collective action beyond government efforts.

Addressing a programme organised on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Konyak said that in Nagaland, community and faith-based organisations, particularly the Church, possess immense influence and can play a transformative role in addressing the challenge of drug abuse.

He appealed to churches to look beyond the pulpit and establish active, institutional and compassionate interventions by setting up church-led counselling units, helping de-stigmatise addiction and mental health struggles, and promoting youth-centric mentorship programmes.

The Advisor also urged Mothers’ Associations, youth organisations and student unions to work together proactively to shield young people from negative influences. The Naga leader called for the creation of drug-free localities and encouraged positive peer engagement through sports, music, cultural activities and vocational skill development.

“The old, predictable threats of traditional narcotics have mutated. We face a complex frontier of highly addictive synthetic drugs and sophisticated, technology-driven trafficking cartels that infiltrate our towns and villages right through the smartphones in our children’s hands,” Konyak said. He said that this day serves to remind us that drug abuse is not just an individual failure; it is a systemic threat to public health, economic productivity, and regional security.

The Naga leader highlighted that the Central government, through its flagship nationwide movement, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), has recognised that a punitive, law-and-order-only approach is insufficient. Under the vision of a Viksit Bharat, the focus has drastically shifted towards institutional demand reduction, grassroots counselling, data-driven mapping of vulnerable hotspots, and dignified rehabilitation.

In alignment with the Centre, the Nagaland government conducts massive awareness campaigns across the state through the District Level Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) Committee headed by Deputy Commissioners.

The state government is also committed to strengthening mechanisms to enforce the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, tightening border monitoring, and increasing the number of De-addiction centres in the state, the Advisor added.

Konyak further appealed to teachers and educators to ensure that schools remain safe havens free from the menace of substance abuse.

In a separate similar programme, Director General of Police (DGP), Rupin Sharma, expressed concern over the growing incidence of drug peddling and substance abuse in the state, noting that the easy availability and accessibility of drugs continue to pose a serious challenge, particularly among the youth.

He observed that many people often fail to distinguish between psychological or medical counselling and religious counselling. “While religion provides moral and ethical guidance, he noted that addiction requires professional treatment and medical intervention,” the senior IPS officer said and pointed out that the state’s rehabilitation infrastructure remains inadequate.

He noted that there is a need to promote a culture of clinical and psychological counselling. Sharma stated that drugs are not a solution to challenges such as depression, unemployment or financial hardship, but instead worsen such problems and have adverse consequences for individuals, families and communities.

He further encouraged citizens to actively cooperate with law enforcement agencies by reporting cases of drug abuse and trafficking, noting that such actions could help save lives. The police chief assured that the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential.

A series of anti-drug campaigns, awareness programmes and community events were organised across Nagaland on Friday to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

–IANS

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