With substance abuse, particularly drug addiction, emerging as a growing concern in East Khasi Hills, the district administration has initiated consultations with key stakeholders to formulate a comprehensive district-level strategy aligned with the Meghalaya government’s DREAM (Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission). Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal chaired a stakeholder consultation with representatives of drug rehabilitation centres and drop-in counselling centres, signalling the start of a series of engagements aimed at developing a coordinated response to the challenge through prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and enforcement.
Representatives from the police, Civil Hospital Shillong, Supercare Hospital, the Additional Deputy Commissioner and the District Social Welfare Officer participated in the meeting, where stakeholders shared ground-level perspectives on treatment gaps, counselling requirements, enforcement challenges and existing rehabilitation support systems across the district. The initiative builds upon DREAM, which seeks to achieve a Drug-Free Meghalaya through free counselling, detoxification, a structured 90-day de-addiction programme, rehabilitation, skill development and continued recovery support. The district administration said further consultations with other stakeholders will be held in the coming days before finalising a district-level action plan, reaffirming its commitment to a coordinated multi-stakeholder approach involving rehabilitation centres, health institutions, law enforcement agencies and civil society to effectively address the menace of substance abuse.
East Khasi Hills begins district-level strategy to combat substance abuse under DREAM mission
