SHILLONG: Sounding a grave warning over Meghalaya’s deepening drug crisis, DREAM Mission Director Francis Kharshiing has highlighted the alarming link between the soaring cost of narcotics and a corresponding rise in crime across the state.
Speaking at an awareness programme held in collaboration with the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Shillong, Kharshiing underscored how the economics of addiction is pushing users into a dangerous cycle of theft, burglary, and exploitative behaviour to sustain their dependency.
He presented a stark comparison of the changing drug market dynamics in the state. “Earlier, a single dose would cost between ₹600 and ₹700, with an average user spending around ₹2,500 per day. Today, due to intensified crackdowns on drug trafficking, the scarcity of supply has driven prices up to nearly ₹3,000 per dose,” he said. “This means an addict may now require close to ₹10,000 daily just to sustain the habit.”
According to Kharshiing, this sharp escalation in cost has become a key driver behind the rise in petty crimes such as theft and robbery. More troubling, he noted, is the emerging pattern of users attempting to lure others into drug use—either to expand the market or as a means to sustain their own supply—thereby accelerating the spread of substance abuse in communities.
In response to the growing crisis, the DREAM Mission is intensifying its focus on long-term rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration. Kharshiing stressed that the period immediately after discharge from de-addiction centres remains the most vulnerable phase, with many individuals relapsing due to unemployment, lack of support, and social stigma.
To address this gap, the Mission has rolled out a targeted skill development programme aimed at equipping recovering individuals with vocational skills and sustainable livelihood opportunities. The initiative is designed to instill confidence, financial independence, and a renewed sense of purpose among those in recovery.
As part of this effort, the state government has sanctioned approximately ₹9 lakh for the procurement of specialised equipment across four major rehabilitation centres—New Hope (Men & Women), New Life De-addiction Centre, and Asha Bhavan. These centres will now offer practical, hands-on training in trades such as bakery, food processing, plumbing, and electrical work.
Kharshiing emphasized that the broader objective of the DREAM Mission is not just to treat addiction but to restore dignity and reintegrate individuals into society as productive members. “Breaking the cycle of addiction requires more than treatment—it demands empowerment through skills, opportunity, and sustained support,” he added.
