Sambalpur: Drug-Free Sambalpur Campaign; 10 Lakh Budget for Anti-Addiction Drive

Overview of the Initiative

Sambalpur: As part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Drug-Free India Campaign), the Odisha State Social Security Department has allocated Rs. 10 lakh for each district, including Sambalpur, to combat addiction. Sambalpur’s action plan includes 17 programs, with Rs. 8.69 lakh already released in the first phase. The department also reports that an additional Rs. 30 lakh is needed for the full action plan.

Increasing Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Odisha

Drug and alcohol abuse continues to rise in Odisha, particularly affecting Sambalpur. Dangerous substances such as cough syrup, brown sugar, alcohol, marijuana, and drugs are becoming more prevalent. This rise in addiction has increased mental health issues and suicide rates. Dr. Subhankar Swain, a mental health specialist at Burla’s Veer Surendra Sai Medical College, reports that substance abuse, including among minors, accounts for two out of every ten mental health cases in the district. Addiction has reduced the male population over age 50 in many parts of Sambalpur. Drug and alcohol use causes many road accidents.

Impact on Women and Rising Public Incidents

While men were once the primary users, women are now increasingly engaging in these habits. Recently, a public dispute over cough syrup sales in the Sahu Colony led to the daylight murder of a woman, highlighting the dire effects of addiction in society. However, despite these visible consequences, the police and excise department have struggled to control the situation.

District Action Plan for a Drug-Free Sambalpur

The district administration (or relevant authority) has created a detailed district action plan to address the crisis. They will use the Rs. 10 lakh budget for a variety of awareness and prevention programs.

1. Awareness Campaigns

• Around Rs. 50,000 will be spent on public awareness efforts, including posters, articles, and public speaking competitions at the high school level.
• Awareness rallies and the formation of block-level committees will support the message.
• There will also be awards for panchayats that are drug-free, encouraging communities to remain so.

2. Skill Development Programs

• Training programs will be conducted to help people develop skills as an alternative to addiction, with a budget of Rs. 1 lakh allocated for these activities.

3. Monitoring and Community Engagement

• A budget of Rs. 50,000 has been set for district-level addiction prevention, coordination, and monitoring efforts.

Through this extensive action plan, Sambalpur aims to curb addiction and create a healthier, addiction-free community.