Workshop on Psychoactive Substance and Welfare Schemes underway

Imphal: The department of social welfare has recently framed the ‘Manipur State Policy on Psychoactive Substance, 2019’, in an effort to strengthen the state government’s endeavour towards prevention of psychoactive substance use in the state.

In this regard, it is felt that local clubs, being the torch bearer in respect of the welfare and development of the locality, would be the best resource in prevention of psychoactive substance use in their respective locality, the department director Ngangom Uttam Singh said.

In pursuance of the state government’s dedication to make the state free of drugs, the department of social welfare had organised a ‘Workshop on Psychoactive Substance and Welfare Schemes’ specially for local club members in the State on January 8 at the City Convention Centre, Palace Compound, Imphal.

Further, in consideration of the importance of building the capacity of local club members on prevention of psychoactive substance use in localities, the department is organising two days training of trainers on `Counselling and Resource Mobilisation on Psychoactive Substance Use’under Nash, Mukht Bharat Abhiyan,on Saturday and Sunday at Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) Main Auditorium, Palace Compound.

The two days training of trainers is being given to local clubs of five valley districts– Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching.

Uttam inaugurated the training programme. He highlighted the significance of treating psychoactive substance use as an illness and the need to seek help and treatment accordingly. He also stressed on the need for community participation through local clubs as a mechanism to combat and prevent the psychoactive substance use in localities.

In the technical session, resource person Dr Senjam Gojendra, asst. professor, department of Psychiatry, RIMS took the first session and spoke on the topic of ‘Role of local club in prevention of psychoactive substance use and recent concept of treatment while Paonam Thoibi, clinical psychologist took three sessions and spoke on the topics of a) Psychological impact on drug use — short can and long term b) Psychological intervention — individual counselling, group counselling, family therapy etc. c)Psycho-social intervention for psychoactive substance use.

Representatives of local clubs attended the training actively raising relevant queries to the resource persons.

On the second day of training there will be three sessions taken by three resource persons. Lamabam Pishak, chief functionary, New Life Foundation will be speaking on the topic of `Resouce Mobilisation’, Bheigha, project director, New Life, Sangaiprou, will take the second session on the topic of `Treatment options and networking’.

The training of trainers will be concluded with experience sharing by Th. Saratkumar, counsellor, MRI, Tera Sapam Leirak, Ngango Singh director (social welfare), Manipur.

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