The United Religions Initiative (URI) and Parmarth Niketan Ashram called representatives from various faith-based organizations, Religious leaders, the United Nations, Alliance India Global Fund to use the power of faith to help people suffering from addiction to alcohol and drugs.

The two days consultative workshop was held at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh on October 4-5, 2019 to develop a manual on “Sensitization of Faith-Based Communities on Health and rights-based approach to drug use in India”. This manual will be used for sensitizing and training the second-line leadership of the faith-based organisations for prevention, stigma reduction and demand reduction including harm reduction.

Funded by The Global Fund, this workshop HIV/ADIS Alliance (Alliance India) entered into in Partnership with URI and Parmarth Ashram for the prevention and treatment of Drug addiction among people.

There were discussion and sharing of thoughts and knowledge by the religious leader on substance abuse and de-addiction including the vision of the partnership between Alliance India, organizations, URI and Parmarth Ashram, which was shared by the Swamiji and Sadhviji of Ashram.

The round table discussion focused on the extent and patterns of drug use in India, problems arising from drug use, how to deal with it and the role of the faith or religious community in developing the outline for the Manual on Engaging Faith-based organizations on Drug prevention. All Faith-Based organizations shared their inputs on how to prevent drug use.

Caritas India shared her input on mobilizing the communities at ground level by the formation of Self Help Groups (SHG) especially of women, village leaders (Sarpanch) groups of villages and children groups in schools to spread awareness and prevention drug use. These groups will generate awareness against the usage of drugs and alcohol at the ground level in communities and schools through street plays and seminars.

The draft Manual will be shared by the URI with all the participants to gather their feedback and illustrate good practices on reducing drug addiction. This Manual will be available at the United Nations Office of Information Communication and Technology (UNOICT) website as a learning product.