Shillong, May 18: Meghalaya intensified its fight against substance abuse on Monday with the launch of a landmark survey under the DREAM Mission. The initiative, inaugurated at Sankardev College, marks the beginning of a scientific effort to map the prevalence, patterns, and impact of substance use across the state.

The survey, starting as a pilot in Shillong, will later expand statewide. What sets this exercise apart is the direct involvement of the user community in data collection, ensuring grassroots insights that reflect the realities on the ground.

The launch event was attended by Principal Dr. Eureka F. P. Lyngdoh, Vice Principal K. Chyne, faculty members, DREAM Mission representatives, and members of the Meghalaya User’s Forum and Meghalaya Drug Users Network.

Francis Kharshiing, Mission Director of DREAM, described the survey as a testament to the government’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking. He credited Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s vision for establishing DREAM as a multi-sectoral mission to tackle substance abuse through scientific assessment and community participation.