PASIGHAT, SEP 25:

Arunachal Pradesh University (APU), Pasighat, hosted a one-day anti-drug awareness programme on Friday, conducted by the East Siang District Police in collaboration with Women Against Social Evils (WASE) under the national ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat’ campaign and the district’s ‘Voice Against Drugs’ initiative.

Addressing students, Deputy Superintendent of Police Toni Tatak highlighted the mental, physiological, financial and social consequences of drug abuse among youth. He also explained the legal provisions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, relating to the manufacture, sale, distribution and consumption of drugs.

WASE president Yamik Dulom Darang stressed the need for civil society and community-led action against addiction. She outlined the organisation’s mission and intervention strategies and shared experiences of families affected by addiction.

The session also featured testimonies from recovering drug users and peer educators from Sille-Oyan, who spoke about their personal struggles and urged students to lead physically active, mentally engaged and purposeful lives.

The programme began with the felicitation of resource persons and WASE team members for their grassroots activism and concluded with a mass pledge by participants to stand united against drugs.