Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla today urged drug addicts in the state to make use of the lockdowns in place to kick their illegal habit.
Shylla told Highland Post that last year’s lockdown during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic had the effect of reducing the availability and, thus, the consumption of illegal drugs. However, as lockdown restrictions were eased, dealers were able to get hold of supply and distribute it among addicts.
Now, with a second round of lockdowns in place in the state, the minister sees them as a positive in the fight against drugs.
“I urge the drug users to take these lockdowns as an opportunity to kick the bad habit and come back onto the right path and not hurt themselves and their family,” Shylla said.
Meanwhile, the minister also said that the government is willing to help sex workers if they are in turn willing to come forward and leave sex work behind them.
- “If they are willing to cooperate with the government, we are ready to find a solution for them as per our capacity,” he stated.
There is already a government scheme that assists single mothers who fulfil various criteria and the state is also ready to help sex workers if they give up prostitution.
