Manipur Youth Attend Anti-Drugs Seminar Held by Assam Rifles

A daylong seminar in Manipur was organized by Assam Rifles to spread awareness against the use of drugs expecting to see a drug free society in Manipur.

Hundreds of scholars, army personnel and school students participated in the "Think Health -Not Drugs" seminar organized at Assam Rifles Headquarters.

It served as a platform to discuss the dangers of consuming drugs and ways to combat it.

The speakers discussed the role of different agencies in combating drug menace.

In 2011, approximately 2332 kilograms of drugs were confiscated and destroyed later.

Several NGOs working in the field of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation also participated and expressed the urgent need to prevent the youth of Manipur from the dependence on drugs.

Several reports suggest that 18 percent of Manipur's student population are victims of drug abuse.

Assam Rifles Major General U K Gurung said: "We have a social responsibility as a citizen of our nation that our youth should go towards being productive. And, to achieve this goal, we have taken an initiative and we are trying to harmonize with the efforts of the state government."

Kumar, a student, said: "It is very good program that we have learnt about anti-drug and now we will not do anything bad, instead we will think about having a better life and future."

Large quantities of opium are smuggled in and out of Manipur.

The state is the home to nearly 50,000 drug addicts and 28 percent of its population is under its influence.

Manipur also has the highest cases of injecting drug users (IDU) in the country.

Source: ANI