Access to Rights and Knowledge (ARK) Foundation conducted a webinar on “substance abuse awareness and prevention” with support from department of Social Welfare for students of Pungro town on July 23.
A press release by ARK Foundation stated that the programme was held in joint collaboration with Private School Teachers Association Pungro (PSTAP). ARK Foundation president, Ketho Angami moderated the programme, wherein he spoke on the topic and shared that addiction in the state has resulted in loss of lives and created a social menace. He urged the students to be aware of the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol use and never to initiate the first use but to rather focus on their educational careers instead of destroying their lives with drugs. On the management and prevention perspective, he mentioned that primary prevention was the “key” and people should be made aware of the harmful effects of drug use and treatment through rehabilitation for those who are already in the addictive stage.
Renbonthung, member, ARK foundation, shared his struggle with substance abuse and how he was able to recover. In his sharing, he mentioned that, during his generation, the society and the individual himself was not aware of the harmful cause of addiction. According to him, though, he was lucky enough to have survived many horrifying years of addiction, but thanked God for keeping him healthy and alive. Ever since his drug free life, he has been working in the field of helping other fellow substance users to help them recover.
He advised the students to engage themselves in healthy habits such as music, games and studies and not to resort to initiating the habit of drugs use.
Earlier, welcome address was delivered by PSTAP general secretary, Shokam and vote of thanks by PSTAP women coordinator Kiutanli.