NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: As drug abuse tightens its grip on Assam, two recovering addicts stood before a packed auditorium in Guwahati on Thursday and shared stories of hope—proof that recovery is possible with the right support.
Moments later, a powerful street play depicting the devastating impact of addiction on families reinforced the same message, turning the event into more than a routine observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Observed globally on June 26, this year’s campaign carried the theme, “World drug problem: Persistent issues, new challenges, innovative responses.”
In Assam, the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS), in collaboration with the Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centre at Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) and Targeted Intervention (TI) NGO Global Organization for Life Development (GOLD), organised the central event at the GMCH Academic Hall.
Addressing the gathering, Kamrup (Metro) District Development Commissioner (DDC) Parijat Bhuyan said drug abuse continues to pose a growing challenge in Assam and called for sustained efforts to rehabilitate people struggling with addiction.
“The problem of drug abuse is rising day by day in Assam. I am happy to note that ASACS and its stakeholders are leaving no stone unturned to rehabilitate injecting drug users through Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centres functioning across the state,” Bhuyan said.
He urged beneficiaries to continue with OST until they successfully overcome addiction.
ASACS Deputy Director Jyoti Prasad Sarmah highlighted the state’s network of rehabilitation services, saying OST Centres are functioning in medical colleges, major hospitals and 10 district hospitals, providing treatment and counselling to injecting drug users.
He stressed that long-term retention in OST programmes remains crucial for successful recovery and rehabilitation.
Senior journalist Pranay Bordoloi said the drug menace has reached alarming proportions in Assam.
“Drugs have entered many homes in Assam. The crisis has become serious, and we all need to confront it together. Organisations like GOLD and other stakeholders are doing commendable work in helping those affected,” he said.
Technical Expert from PATH, Pankaj Choudhury, emphasised the role of parents and guardians in preventing substance abuse, urging them to remain aware of their children’s activities and peer groups.
Paresh Chandra Das of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) explained the legal consequences of offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Earlier, Rajeeb Sarma of GOLD welcomed participants and outlined the objectives of the programme.
The event also featured a street play highlighting the dangers of drug abuse, while two recovering injecting drug users shared their personal journeys, describing how continued participation in OST programmes helped them reclaim their lives from addiction.
Beyond Guwahati, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed across Assam through awareness rallies, public meetings, poster-making and reel-making competitions in colleges and educational institutions.
Anti-drug and HIV awareness messages were also disseminated across the state through radio, television, newspapers, social media, digital platforms and folk media campaigns.