Substance abuse has been a persistent issue in Arunachal Pradesh, severely affecting the potential of the state, especially the youths. However, GoAP is actively taking measures to combat addiction and create a positive change for the youth.
To heighten awareness and educate the public on the dangers of drug use, the state government established the ‘Arunachal Against Substance’ campaign. The initiative aims to assist the families of addicts and offer them support while encouraging drug users to seek help from rehab facilities. The program will provide a safe and healthy environment for individuals to turn their life around and enable them to begin with a clean slate. It offers vital resources such as helplines, online counselling, and testimonials from people who have overcome addiction.
There are also NGOs and non-governmental organizations working tirelessly to promote awareness around drug abuse throughout the whole state. The Indian Army has played a significant role in this cause by organizing youth-targeted awareness campaigns and engaging them in various sports activities. Women initiatives such as WASE are increasing awareness and advocating against drug abuse among young people, with the entire female population of Arunachal Pradesh supporting the idea of a drug-free state.
Through their determination and persistence, the state is moving in the right direction towards a drug-free future. We invite citizens to share their thoughts on the impact created through these ongoing campaigns at ground level. What other measures should be taken by GoAP to eradicate substance abuse from its roots?
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
inadequate strategies; loopholes in the current legislative measures; no counseling on substance abuse by the outreach workers; lack of tested screening tools; lack of follow-up services; and resource limitations, in the exacerbation of the problem [1,6,25,36-38].
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
Although, multiple strategies have been implemented in different countries to counter the menace of drug abuse, but the outcomes have not been encouraging enough. Evaluation studies have revealed multiple bottlenecks in the current strategies such as poor political will; lack of target oriented measures; socio-cultural barriers; low level of community awareness about the adverse consequences of drug abuse
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
favors trauma recurrence and reduces the trauma-free period [29,33,34]; casualties due to interpersonal violence [26]; and rate of admission in hospitals owing to drug overdose or infections from needles [24,35]. In addition, drug abuse imposes a substantial economic burden on the country because of the added direct and indirect medical and non-medical expenditures [25].
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
aggravated cases of familial disharmony [26]; enhanced cardiovascular risks [28]; psychological morbidities like depression and adjustment disorders [13,29]; more frequent adoption of high risk behavior [26,30]; HIV / AIDS infection [13,26]; cerebro-vascular accidents [31]; metabolic complications in elderly [32]; drug-abuse related deviant or criminal activities
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
As already discussed, drug abuse tends to affect the individuals from the middle-age group substantially, the aftermaths of drug abuse not only results in adverse health consequences, but even affects the quality of life and family inter-dynamics [24,25]. Substance abuse has produced a significant impact on health and social dimensions like poor academic performance [26]; increase in the incidence of school dropouts [6]; rise in cases of juvenile delinquency [27]; aggravated cases of familial di
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
increase in prescriptions for neuropsychiatric medications like opioids / stimulants / sedatives [19,20]; weak legislative measures [6,14]; rise in the sale of non-prescription or over-the-counter drugs [21]; and no effective strategies to curb new drugs usage that are sold through internet [22]. In fact, a theory of planned behavior has been proposed to determine factors that can influence a person for drug abuse or smoking
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
A wide range of biological, genetic, medical, social, and environmental factors have influenced people for the drug abuse [11,12]. These multidimensional factors include parameters such as genetic predisposition [11,13]; childhood behavioral problems [14]; adverse childhood events like
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
an illicit drug within a span of one month in the United States alone [8]. Furthermore, the problem of drug abuse not only runs in families, but is significantly influenced by the environmental factors - influencing attitudes toward drug use and serving as a source of drugs of abuse
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
In addition, globally more than fifteen million persons are indulged in drug abuse and the problem of injectable drug abuse has been reported in more than 145 nations [6,7]. In fact, it was reported that in the year 2011, almost 22 million people have consumed
Sakthivel 3 months 6 days ago
The World Health Organization has estimated that more than 225 million individuals or one in every twenty adults have consumed an illegal drug once in the year 2010 [4]. The public health concern of drug abuse does not recognize any boundaries and affects all the persons irrespective of their socioeconomic status or their belonging from a developed or developing country