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KVSU advisor Pheluopfhelie Kesiezie addressing seminar-cum-discussion on substance abuse held on September 3. (Photo Courtesy: KVSU)
Kohima, September 7 (MExN): The Kohima Village Students’ Union (KVSU) organized a seminar cum discussion on substance abuse to create awareness among the students community on seen a recent surge in the use of drugs and other abusive substance. It took place at Kohima Village Council (KVC) Hall on September 3 last.
A press release received here stated that the seminar felt the need to place councellor in every school and college. It also felt the need to have regular checking of the student bags in schools and colleges and stressed on the need to create recreational centres for the students.
Addressing the seminar, KRIPA Foundation programme coordinator, Ketholelie Whuorie shared some of the most common drugs found in Kohima and in Nagaland like YABA, cough syrup, ganga , dendrites etc.
He said that people use drugs because of ignorance, experimental, recreation, peer pressure, failure, curiosity and pressure, negligence from parents and friends, life jolting experience and environment they live in.
Kohima Press Club (KPC) general secretary Atono Tsükrü Kense made a presentation on the history of drugs in Nagaland.
Kense mentioned that in terms of percentage of population affected, the top states in the country are those in the north east (Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur) along with Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.
For Sedative drugs, states with the highest prevalence of current Sedative use are Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
However, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are the top five states which house the largest populations of people using sedatives.
High numbers of PWID are estimated in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur and Nagaland.
She called upon the gathering to ponder on the issue that substance use and abuse is not just an individual problem, but a socio-economic, political and human rights issue.
“It requires the commitment, support and political will of our leaders irrespective of political affiliations, policy makers, civil society and all concern to collectively address the problem of substance abuse in our state,” she said.
The panelists of the seminar included Limawabang Aier, additional director Directorate of School Education, KRIPA Foundation Kohima, Department of higher education, Bijano Murry, principal of Dr. Neilhouzhü Kire Government Higher School Kohima, Kezhakietuo Belho, youth pastor Khedi Baptist Church, Viketoulie Pienyü, senior medical officer and representative from administration.
KVSU advisor Pheluopfhelie Kesiezie acted as the moderator.
