Although many governments, including Meghalaya, harp on the dangers of addiction to illegal drugs, they are curiously silent on addiction to a totally legal narcotic – alcohol.
Dr Sandi Syiem, Director of Sanker Rehabilitation Centre, said today that India is a growing market for alcohol. Though the country is officially meant to promote prohibition, it is instead encouraging the alcohol industry.
In Meghalaya, the state government is aiming to earn Rs 400 crore annually from alcohol duties alone, a huge chunk of revenue for an otherwise poor state.
Such is the importance of alcohol to the exchequer that when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the government quickly legalised home delivery of alcohol to make buying liquor easier.
Speaking at an awareness programme on drug abuse at Sanker, organised by the Shillong All Faiths Forum, Dr Syiem said that one may talk about control of addiction but the sale of alcohol is being encouraged.
Speaking to reporters, he said that there is a need to have rehabilitation centres in every constituency of Meghalaya.
“It should not be a war against drug addicts as that has failed. Since 2015, the United Nations and the World Health Organisation have stated that addiction is a disease (not a crime),” he added.
Fr Richard Majaw, the Vicar General of the Shillong Archdiocese and general secretary of SAFF, said that substance abuse affects society and faith leaders and everyone involved should not condemn those addicted but to hold the hands of the families affected by it, those fallen into drug abuse and society.
“If the society and all faiths work together we will win and give a new life to those fallen into the trap of drug abuse,” Fr Majaw said. SAFF has already agreed with the state government to work towards helping drug addicts.
