Social Welfare Minister, Kyrmen Shylla on Wednesday said that the society doesn’t accept drug addicts.
“We are scared, we take it as evil,” Shylla said.
He however, expressed his hope that with The Draft Meghalaya Drug Abuse Prevention Policy, 2020, people who use drugs would be accepted and reintegrated in the society.
“It is possible, all they need is care and love from us,” the Social Welfare Minister said.
Urging citizens to treatment drug addicts humanely, and if done so, Shylla said that such persons will have the courage to come forward to openly express their sufferings.
“Otherwise what is happening now is that these people are scared to get themselves treated. If they are encouraged to come forward and share the stories I believe the future generations will not fall into the trap of drugs,” he added.
The Social Welfare Minister also raised concern over the fact that society is still reluctant to give space for de-addiction centers.
Shylla also informed that the government is giving funds to upgrade infrastructures in the existing de-addiction centers.
Earlier, the Social Welfare Minister released a music video on drug abuse, as part of the Meghalaya State Nasha Mukt Baharat Abhiya.