There is a need for a compassionate and community-oriented approach towards people struggling with addiction, as substance abuse is not merely a legal or a medical issue but also a social and psychological concern requiring collective responsibility.
This was said by Prof (Dr) Kamaljeet Singh, former Vice-Chancellor of Madhusudan Law University, Cuttack. He was addressing the participants in a thought-provoking symposium on “De-Addiction and Substance Abuse with Relation to Mental Health”, organised at the Himachal Pradesh University Institute of Legal Studies (HPUILS), Shimla, in which he served as the chief guest.
The symposium, held on the theme ‘Rewiring Lives, Reviving Hope’ was attended by academicians, mental health experts, law professionals, journalists and students to deliberate on the growing challenges of substance abuse and emotional well-being among the youth. The programme aimed at creating awareness about the complex relationship between addiction, mental health, emotional resilience and rehabilitation.
Expert panelist Prof (Dr) Shiv Nath Ghosh, Senior Professor, Department of Psychology, Himachal Pradesh University, highlighted the alarming rise in mental health issues among young people due to stress, social isolation and unhealthy coping mechanisms. He emphasised the importance of emotional support systems, counselling and awareness-based interventions to prevent substance dependency.
The symposium also featured engaging discussions by several distinguished panellists, including Mehar Panwar, ASP, Shimla, Dr Ravi Sharma from the department of psychiatry, IGMC Shimla, Archana Kashyap, clinical psychologist at AIIMS Bilaspur and senior journalist and researcher Archana Phull. The speakers shared insights on the social, legal, medical and psychological dimensions of addiction and rehabilitation.
During the discussions, experts expressed concern over the increasing vulnerability of youth to narcotics, alcohol abuse and emotional distress. They called for stronger awareness campaigns, institutional support, family engagement and policy-driven interventions to tackle the issue effectively.
Students also actively participated in the interactive sessions and engaged with experts on issues related to peer pressure, anxiety, recovery and social stigma. The event concluded with a collective appeal to society to replace judgement with empathy and to strengthen support networks for individuals battling addiction and mental health challenges.
