Over 40,000 youths dependent on drugs need empathy, says Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said that altogether 40,500 youths of the state are now dependent on narcotic drugs and they need to be treated with empathy so that they become responsible citizens.

Sangma highlighted the state's ambitious Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM), a Rs 10 crore programme aimed at eliminating substance abuse by leveraging the participation of communities and religious bodies and coordinating strategies.

The state government is making concerted efforts to ensure that Meghalaya becomes a drug-free state. We need to ensure that the 40,500 youth who are totally dependent on drugs are treated with empathy and taken care of so that they can integrate back into society as responsible and productive citizens, he said.

The chief minister was addressing the state-level awareness programme on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Sangma said that observing the Day is part of a larger plan to ensure