A drug addict receives doses of addnok tablets from a counsellor at a drop in centre of Kripa Rehabilitation Centre in Kohima, Nagaland, India. With few options, many Naga youth turn to drugs or alcohol. Addiction rates here are among the highest in India. So too is the rate of AIDS. Oral drug substitution therapy means substituting the mode of a person's illegal drug use to a legal drug use and in the process prevent him/her from encountering certain complications relating to illicit drug...(Copyright Sanjit Das)
Dimapur, Jun 28 : At least 50 per cent drug addicts in Nagaland are injecting drugs users (IDU) and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS transmission, the latest report compiled by an NGO has revealed.
Nagaland, which has an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 drug users, has the highest number of them in India.
According to the report, which is based on studies conducted by government agencies including NACO and NGOs in 2009, out of 35,000 to 40,000 drug users, 18,000 to 20,000 are injecting drug users and exchange of needles among them is one of the major routes of HIV/AIDS transmission.
These findings presented at 'Convergence Workshop on Drug Abuse Prevention' at Dimapur yesterday called for a coordinated and concerted effort from all stakeholders to tackle the problem of drug abuse in Nagaland.
The workshop sponsored by National Institute of Social Defence, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in collaboration with Regional Resource and Training Center, North East-II was attended by various NGOs, field based organisations and educational institutions.
Punjab ranks second in drug abuse
Health Minister Satpal Gosain being shown the exhibition against drug abuse
More than 70 per cent of boys and girls in Punjab abuse drugs, says survey
Ludhiana: After Nagaland, Punjab ranks second in the country for drug abuse. As per a survey, more than 70 per cent of boys and girls in Punjab, abuse drugs. According to a survey conducted by psychologist Dr Shiv Sood, 62 percent of the boys and girls in the age group of 19-24 years are exposed to drugs. These findings came to light in the state-level function on International Day Against Drug Abuse at Government college for boys.
Health Minister Satpal Gosain was the chief guest on the occasion. Gosain expressed concern over the increasing drug addiction in the state. He asked all those gathered to take a pledge that they will fight against drug abuse. A though provoking play was also shown by students on the occasion.
Explaining the achievements of the health department, secretary of health, Satish Chander said: “In the past four years we have seized drugs worth Rs 11 crores from various parts of the state and to be more vigilant, 34 new drug inspectors will be recruited. At the moment 19 inspectors are fighting this menace.”
Sources in the health department however revealed that the drugs which were seized have not yet been destroyed because the court cases are still going on.
The seized medicines are lying at secret places in various districts.
The management and storage of these seized drugs are a headache for the drug inspectors, confirmed the sources.
Director of health services, Dr Ashok Nayyar admitted that youngsters are involved in drug abuse because of easy availability of drugs, he added: “The fake de-addiction centres are another nuisance where youngsters are detained illegally. We have raided such centres in Faridkot and Hoshairpur and have closed down these centres as well. Our teams are on constant vigil against such centres.”
Drugs or Aids awareness?
Although the programme was about the fight against drug abuse, a majority of the posters on display were regarding AIDS. In addition to this, the literature was in short supply
and nothing could be distributed for awareness purposes. Social activist Satpal Bansal met the health minister and
complained about the lack of preparation. Bansal said: “I could not find a single poster talking about drug abuse and everything was on AIDS. Mere talks will not serve the purpose.”
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