Understanding the fact that Addiction affects much more than it seems as it puts a huge strain on several aspects of society and Drug abuse being one of the connecting fibers that joins even our state, SPARK conducted an in-depth sensitization programme of 5 months with its follow-up which concluded today with satisfying results of decrease in the people doing drug-abuse.
The programme was organized by SPARK in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, Shillonga at Pongkung Village, Mawlynrei Village, Mawlong Village, Umsawli Village and Bara Bazaar Slum targeting more than 300 participants and 100s of family interventions. The Resource Persons for the programme were officials from Meghala Legal Aids Services, New Hope Centre, Village Leaders and SPARK. The programme which was initiated in March 2024 concluded today at Shillong yielding excellent results.
The objectives of this in-depth programme on Drug Abuse were to enlighten the Community on the adverse effects of drugs and liquor as well as to sensitize the Community on ways and means to address the issues concerned empowering the participants to protect and prevent themselves from the effects of drug abuse.and to provide the community with necessary information pertaining to treatment and services available related to drug abuse and alcoholism. We also aimed at forming groups in the community as Vigilance Cell against Drugs Abuse and Alcohol and then, to network and advocate with different Allied Systems to deal with the issue of Drug Abuse and Alcoholism and finally to create a positive changes of the target groups at the end of the programme empowering them to raise their voice against the concerned issue of Drugs and alcohol.
As intended, we could achieve satisfying results with the community being trained on issues concerning drugs and alcohol and were empowered to deal with the issue effectively and efficiently resulting in decrease in the number of cases of the usage of drug abuse and alcohol changing the attitudes and abilities of those affected by the issue concerned. Moreover the Communities were able to benefit from the services available pertaining to treatment of drugs and alcohol. Further, Children Group, Youth Group and Women Groups were formed to keep a strict vigilance against Drug Abuse and Alcohol in their Community establishing a strong network with the concerned allied system and organizations towards intervention of drug and alcohol related cases. We went on for four months follow up action through the weekly review meetings, monthly, bi- annual and annual meetings.
We were glad to find positive changes among the participants and community as a whole building-up their capacities to raise their voice against the concerned issue of Drugs and alcohol.
THe struggle and battle against Drug Abuse is still on and will continue till the State and Nation as a whole is made drugs -free and a safe environment is created for every single being to grow and flourish to the fullest.