Shillong, June 26: Calling for a united fight against substance abuse, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday said the state’s DREAM initiative has evolved from a government mission into a people’s movement against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Addressing the observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Shillong, Sangma said the day brings together governments, communities, educators and faith-based organisations in a common mission to eradicate drug misuse and replace the stigma surrounding addiction with compassion and empathy.
“DREAM started as a mission, but today it has become a movement, bringing different sections of society together in the fight against drug abuse,” the Chief Minister said.
He noted that while many individuals and organisations were already working against drug abuse, there had been little coordination among them. The DREAM Mission, he said, has created a platform that unites stakeholders and supports concrete action.
“It’s important not only to talk but to act. The government is steadily supporting different individuals and organisations working towards this common goal,” he said.
The Chief Minister stressed that the occasion was not merely an annual calendar event but an opportunity to recognise the efforts of those fighting addiction and to hear their suggestions. He also underlined the need to involve ordinary citizens in the campaign.
“Until the common people become part of this movement, we will not achieve the kind of impact that we desire,” he said.
In a broader reflection on addiction, Sangma said dependency is not limited to drugs and substances.
“All of us are addicted to something or the other—be it mobile phones, screen time or shopping. There is room for improvement for everyone, and everybody needs help at certain points of time,” he added.
The Chief Minister later administered an anti-drug pledge to the gathering.
A major highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Centre of Evolution at the Reid Provincial Chest Hospital. The new facility will provide medical treatment, counselling, therapy and long-term support for individuals battling addiction.
Financial assistance was also extended to several organisations working in rehabilitation and awareness, including the Achik Welfare Society in Tura, The Bridge Society in Nongstoin, Khasi Presbyterian Assembly (Selda) in Jowai and Dream Solace – Centre for Hope & Recovery in Shillong.
Certificates and awards were presented to Recovery Champions, Community Champions and Outreach and Impact Award recipients. Winners of anti-drug drawing competitions were also felicitated, and the Recovery Track Portal was launched during the programme.
The event also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Social Welfare Department, DREAM and SEWA Inland, Tura.
The programme concluded with technical sessions on disrupting drug trafficking and organised crime, the role of schools in prevention, and early intervention and treatment strategies for substance use disorders, alongside cultural performances by DREAM Youth Ambassadors and the band Wavelength.
