Shillong, July 7: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday said that it is time to come together to find some kind of way forward to tackle the problem drugs and alcohol and stop the flow of different substances into the state.

The Chief Minister made this appeal in his inaugural address at the 1st National Conference organized by the Continuing Institute of Nursing Cell, Woodland Institute of Nursing, Shillong in collaboration with St. Anthony’s College, Shillong and co-sponsored by Chief Minister Youth Development Scheme on the theme “Substance, Suicide and Adolescents: Effects of Substance abuse and Suicide in Adolescents”.

The inaugural programme was attended by Principal of North Liberty Higher Secondary School, Richard B. Uriah, Managing Director, Woodland Institute of Nursing, Dr. W. Kharshiing, Principal, St. Anthony’s College, Bro. A. Dkhar, Principal, Woodland Institute of Nursing L. K. Das and students.

The conference was organized with an aim to highlight the prevalence of substance abuse and suicide among adolescents and to create awareness on its effects on the society and the youth.

The objectives of the conference is to identify the different types of substances and its effect, knowing impact of substance abuse including its prevention, to elaborate concept of peer group pressure, to understand causes of suicidal tendency among the youths, to focus and help the youths with suicidal thoughts and to correlate the relation between substance abuse and suicidal tendencies.

Lauding Woodland Institute of Nursing and the entire team for conducting the seminar to create awareness and sensitize the youth that drug and alcohol is not the way to get rid of pressure. Conrad said, “we cannot fight this battle by simply putting various measures to check and stop the flow of different substances into our State. It is time to come together for politicians, academicians, health sector and society in general to be able to find some kind of way forward to tackle the problem.”

He also reminded that the future of the state, country and global economy is really dependent on how the energy of youth is channelized.

“The government can only create policies, infrastructure and facilitate different kind of ideas, actions and programmes to be taken, but ultimately it is the youth who are going to determine the future of our nation,” the Chief Minister added.

Stating that substance abuse has the capacity to channelize all energy in the wrong direction which also has a multiple impact in the society, Conrad stressed on the need to set up counseling centre and support system for the youth to ensure that whenever young people are faced with any challenge, stress and difficulties in life, they are guided in the right direction.

During the programme, the Chief Minister along with other dignitaries released a souvenir of Woodland Institute of Nursing titled “U Mawmer ka Jingjop”.

Topics for the technical session include substance use and abuse and overview, Medical aspects of substance use, Peer group pressure and adolescents at risk, Impacts of substance abuse in the society and Substance abuse and suicide: where the two intersect, Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic substance Act, Suicide among adolescents with substance abuse: prevention and intervention strategies followed by a panel discussion on the theme.

Resource persons include Dr. D. Gogoi, Consultant Psychiatrist, Woodland Hospital, Dr. B. Barman, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, NEIGRIHMS, I. Shadap, Clinical Psychologist, Civil Hospital, Nongstoiñ, M. Anthony, Nursing Superintendent Downtown Hospital, Assam, Dr. B. Bhagabati, former Professor, GMCH, Assam and Dr. A. Nongpiur, Asstt. Professor Department of Psychiatry NEIGRIHMS.