Cyber world, real threats: Meghalaya workshop warns of digital pathways to drug abuse

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 2, 2025

The Social Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with multiple partners, held a one-day workshop on August 28 highlighting an alarming new front in the fight against drugs—cyberspace.

The workshop, themed “Digital Dangers: How Cyber Crime Fuels Drug Abuse”, was organised under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) at Landmark Victoria Hills, Nongrim Hills, Shillong. It drew educators, counsellors, NGOs, parents, and law enforcement officers into discussions on how the digital age is reshaping the drug menace.

Chief Guest Camelia Doreen Lyngwa, Director and Joint Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, cautioned that if society fails to address drug abuse collectively, “an entire generation of youth—the building blocks of the State—could be lost.” She stressed that parents, teachers, and communities must share responsibility alongside the government to tackle this crisis.

While Meghalaya has yet to record drug transactions through the Dark Web, experts warned that the danger lies ahead. “Young people are increasingly encountering drugs not on street corners, but on their screens,” said Sub-Inspector Sylvester Chyne of the Meghalaya Police Cyber Crime Division. He pointed to online gaming platforms, encrypted messaging apps, and social media as emerging gateways where drug culture is normalised, glorified, and even marketed.

Technical sessions led by cybercrime specialists, including forensic consultant Shreyas Muthye and Dreamzware Software Solutions’ Nobarun Dey, shed light on how digital networks provide anonymity for traffickers while exposing vulnerable youth. The sessions urged adoption of strong cyber-safety practices, digital vigilance, and protective tools such as antivirus safeguards.

Beyond the technical threats, discussions underscored the psychological risks of excessive digital exposure—cyberbullying, isolation, and online comparison—that often push young people toward substance use as a coping mechanism.

The workshop served not just as a warning, but as a call to action. It aimed to equip teachers, parents, and stakeholders with preventive knowledge, stressing the importance of “digital hygiene” in everyday life. By fostering responsible online behaviour and awareness, organisers hope to build resilience against a problem that is shifting from physical spaces to virtual ones.

The event, conducted in partnership with the Drug Reduction, Elimination & Action Mission (DREAM), the Meghalaya Police Cyber Crime Division, Dreamzware Software Solutions, Hyderabad, and Kripa Foundation, concluded with a strong message: the fight against drugs must now also be fought online.