Meghalaya governor says drug abuse is a “silent epidemic”

Meghalaya’s Governor, Chandrashekhar H Vijayashankar, said he sees a “silent epidemic” of drug abuse-the greatest threat to the state’s future generations. At a session on drug usage held at Raj Bhavan, he shared his opinions. Substance misuse has been linked to numerous negative effects, including those on culture, the legal system, the economy, and society. He emphasized that combating drug misuse is a team effort. He made a plea for cooperation from all governmental branches, law enforcement branches, healthcare systems, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

Simultaneously, he extended an invitation to the young people to come up and promote a drug-free lifestyle. Michael Syngkon of the Manbha Foundation addressed the topic of improving the lives of individuals who suffer from addiction in the interim. As you can see, the Meghalayan government has already begun the Drug Reduction, Elimination, and Action Mission, or DREAM, a program aimed at ending substance abuse and creating a community free of drugs. On September 19, the Border Security Force stopped attempts to smuggle goods at the Bangladesh-India border and confiscated a significant amount of liquor and buffalo horns valued at over Rs 13 lakhs.

A patrolling party of the 193rd battalion of the Border Security Force apprehended an Indian national along with a vehicle loaded with a large number of buffalo horns hidden in bags on September 19, 2024, as part of a series of sustained operations along the Indo-Bangladesh border to check anti-social activities of smuggling, the BSF said in a press release.