The Meghalaya government has a challenging task ahead to tackle the menace of drug abuse with an estimated three lakh users as of 2024 and the numbers are rising.
The majority of the drug users are youth between the ages of 15 and 29.
The entire State is facing the ramifications of drug use in various ways, affecting the health and development of the citizens.
Drug abuse is common amongst street children and young adolescents in schools and according to stakeholders kids as young as 8-10 year olds are hooked to substance abuse.
One has to walk the city streets in GS Road to Bimola Point, Khyndailad, Laitumkhrah, Jhalupara, Civil Point and other parts of Shillong to see kids and young adults high due to substance abuse.
There are no government run treatment facilities available in the State for the victims and most have to depend on private services which on most occasions are expensive and out of the reach of the poor.
For those who can afford, families shell out at average Rs. 15000 per month for treating those hooked on to drugs. Their stay is for a minimum of three months but can be extended depending on the capacity of the family to treat them.
But, those who are availing treatment is only a small percentage and the government has a tough task ahead to ensure that it can care for those who are unable to, most of whom are out on the streets fending for them with no families to care for them.
The biggest task for recovering drug addicts once they come out of treatment is to stay clean without going back to their old ways. From here on it is an individual’s determination to fight his demons and stay away from drugs.
However, the fight against drug abuse in Meghalaya is not of the government alone, but there should be a concerted effort of all stakeholders like the Dorbar Shnongs and its constituents like the Seng Longkmie, Seng Samla and specially the family to see that this menace is eradicated from the society once and for all.
The stakeholders should be sensitised and ask them to provide these recovering addicts with support so that they can slowly integrate into society.
To tackle the menace of drug abuse the Meghalaya government has launched the Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM) project.
Retired police officer Francis G Kharshiing, has been appointed as the Mission Director and stakeholders are optimistic that the scourge of drug abuse can be curbed.
Additionally in December 2024, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) police station.
The ANTF Police Station will be led by an Officer in the rank of Superintendent of Police with a team of 30 personnel.
According to 2024 statistics over the past five years, 653 drugs-related cases has been registered, leading to the arrest of 1,027 men and 134 women, but the conviction rate remains low, with only 25 convictions out of the 653 cases, largely due to the heavy caseload at traditional police stations.
In 2025 the State government has its task cut out and its major assignment is to see that supply of narcotic substances is choked.
Another job before the State is to ensure that there are no new additions to the already three lakh users.
