A choir performs at the inauguration of the counselling centre on Saturday. Telegraph picture

Shillong, June 25: The Presbyterian Church of Mission here is the latest among church-based organisations to start a counselling centre to aid those addicted to drug or substance abuse.

The centre, which was inaugurated on Saturday, will be housed at the community hall of mission locality, and would be run in collaboration with SAN-KER, Meghalaya’s only private institute for mental health. It will provide help to addicts and their families residing in the Mawkhar-Jaiaw area.

“With a deep sense of anguish over the prevalence of drug or substance abuse, especially among the youths, this centre has been inaugurated where every Wednesday evening, counselling would be provided to those who have fallen prey to substance abuse,” Wanshan Khardewsaw of the Presbyterian Church, Mission locality, said.

The centre was inaugurated by Rev. D.E. Syiem in the presence of various church elders, principals from 12 schools in the vicinity of mission locality, youth and women’s groups.

After the inauguration, a special counselling session was held for the students from the 12 schools and others.

The inauguration was also part of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to be observed tomorrow.

The state government, through the directorate of social welfare, will organise a function at Ramakrishna Mission Cultural Centre, Jail Road tomorrow.

Meghalaya is also waiting for the enactment of the State Drugs Policy, which is still at the drafting stage, to streamline the fight against substance abuse in a holistic manner. In Meghalaya, Jaintia Hills has the highest number of drug users, a report prepared by an NGO, North East India Drugs and AIDS Care (NEIDAC), stated in February last year.

In East Khasi Hills, there were 5,113 drug users, in Ri Bhoi 2,397, in West Khasi Hills 1,525, in East Garo Hills 1,500, in West Garo Hills 1,100 and in South Garo Hills 800, taking the total number of drug users in the state to 17,833.

The female drug users and street urchins, who have fallen prey to substance abuse, are also a matter of concern for the state.

According to the records with the Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya, an NGO, there are around 92 female drug users in Shillong. Of these, five had already tested positive for HIV.