The Social Welfare Department, in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Kohima Science College, Jotsoma organized an awareness program on Substance Use Disorder. The event aimed to educate students on substance abuse prevention, peer pressure, and mental health.
The session was led by Dr.Meripeni Ezung, Associate Professor, Department of Physics. Delivering the opening remarks, K. Wango Langsym, Deputy Director in the Directorate of Social Welfare, emphasized that the program was not meant to target addicts but to spread awareness. “We are not calling you here because you are addicted but to share awareness,” he stated. He encouraged the students to be agents of ‘Change” in the society.
The f”rst session on Introduction to Substance Abuse and Importance of Primary Prevention was conducted by Ketho Angami, President, ARK Foundation, Nagaland. He discussed gateway drugs and how substance abuse often starts from small things in life. He pointed out misconceptions, stating, “Many of us think alcohol is not a drug, but it is one of the oldest and most widely misused substances.”
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He also highlighted the role of peer pressure in leading young people to substance use and shared his personal strategies to stay away from substance abuse and maintain sobriety.
A session on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder was delivered by Dr.Sungtimen Jamir, Medical Officer, OST & Detox Centre, NHAK. Sharing a childhood anecdote, he explained how emotional distress often drives youth towards substance abuse. He emphasized that mental health is as crucial as physical health, saying, “Just because we are physically healthy does not mean we are truly healthy if our mind is suffering”.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session led by Ketho Angami, followed by concluding remarks from Zahebietuo Kire, Welfare Inspector, Social Welfare Department. The program was well attended by Students of 6th semesters, IQAC members and KSCSU officials.
