Bhubaneswar: The state government is working to formulate a social action plan with a view to combat the menace of drug abuse. Keeping this in view, the government has convened a special public meeting with important stakeholders discuss the matter.
A meeting of important decision-makers, policy-makers, media, community-level workers and others has been scheduled Monday to chalk out the strategy to end drug abuse among a section of the population through innovative ways.
The department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), which is the nodal agency in the state on rehabilitation of drug abuse victims and related issues, had earlier tried to pitch in the idea of roping in spiritual organisations like Ram Krishna Mission and Bramhakumaris to boost the will power of drug addicts and help them to quit drugs.
Department secretary Niten Chandra told Orissa POST that the experiment worked very well in combating drug addiction. He said that unlike the success of medical treatment, spiritual training was more enduring. Chandra claimed that many drug addicts became harbingers of change and made themselves the torchbearers of anti-addiction squads in community levels after undertaking such trainings and session.
The department claims that Monday’s meeting will work on the new action plan on how to eradicate the drug menace and is likely to brainstorm on the different ways to combat the issue with specific case studies and best practices from different parts of the state and the country.
An official of the SSEPD department said, “The state-level brainstorming session aims at developing a comprehensive action plan for the state on the issues of treatment and rehabilitation, prevention, education, capacity building, setting of quality standards and effective convergence of all stakeholders.”