In an alarming revelation, Managing Director of Woodland Institute of Nursing Dr W Kharshiing said that the statistics of substance abuse in Meghalaya are even more unfavourable than Punjab.

Dr Kharshiing, in a conference on the theme 'Substance, Suicide and Adolescents: Effects of Substance Abuse and Suicide in Adolescents', announced different eye-opening statistics about the condition of substance abuse in the state.

Kharshiing went on to say that Meghalaya tops the list of tobacco use by minors at 96.4% as well as the use of heroin at 27.3% in the country. For reference, he said that the heroin use in Punjab is 19.3%.

Nagaland and Sikkim are not far behind on the list of tobacco abuse by minors at 95.8% and 93.1% respectively. "Injectable drugs, the statistics showed, are popular among minors with 88.6% taking it in Mizoram, followed by Punjab and Rajasthan at 25% each " he said.

The conference was organised by the Woodland Institute of Nursing in collaboration with St. Anthony's College and was sponsored by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma's Youth Development Scheme.

(Source: The Shillong Times)

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