Marginalized: Drug users demand separate policy

Our Correspondent KOHIMA, JUNE 26 The Indian Drug Users’ Forum (IDUF) on Friday, June 26, drew the attention of the Nagaland government to formulate a separate ‘drug policy’ for the state. The statement is timely as the attention of the state government was being sought on a day, June 26, when Nagaland was joining the world in observing International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The event was marked with a function in the LCS building in Kohima town. “We cannot rely on central government for funds all the time. We should have our own drug policy with a separate budget,” president of the forum Abou Mere said during the program. Upset that the department in concern did not arrange any budget for observing World Drug Day, mere expressed disappointment that the Nagaland government had a ‘nil budget’ for alcoholics and drug users.Social Welfare being the nodal department, the IDUF president urged the director of Social Welfare department who was present at the event, to press the government to come up with a separate drug policy for the state. Sharing his experiences with drug users, Mere felt the time had come for the state to start ‘doing some research and documentation’ to make people learn from it. “When it comes to drug abuse, we have lots of knowledge and experiences, because Nagaland is a state which has come across many of these cases. What we lack is documentation,” he remarked. “We have tried enough to bring an end to drug abuse in the state, but it didn’t end up with success stories,” mere said. “We have tried almost everything - from capital punishment, to imposing fines, and even to the extent of parading them naked, yet there are still a good number of drug users in the State,” he said and suggested publishing documentations to educate the public more on drug use and its negative impact. It may be mentioned that there are approximately 16,000 identified and registered drug users in the state. Director of Social Welfare department Merang T Sungba Aier, in his address, expressed the need for the state government to arrange separate funds for people in need, especially drug users. He also expressed the need for ‘strict vigilance cell’ to contain drug use. Highlighting the massive negative impact of drug abuse, he conveyed a message to the younger generation that “drug is not a solution”. He advised them to ‘not even think of even giving a try on it’. Aier cautioned the gathering stating that use of substance brings division to families and relationships leading to frustration and isolation. “Instead of solving your problems or giving relief when you are stressful, it destroys your life by killing your advancement. It even disturbs your works,” he said and urged the general public to come together to fight against drug and help drug users do away with it. Speaking on the “significance of the day”, Nagaland Users Network (NUN) president Ruokozo, while informing that Nagaland had the highest rate of drug abuse in India, urged the state government to upgrade the preventive interventions, initiate primary prevention program and integrate drug treatment into public health program. “Although we are making progress in managing the spread of HIV/AIDS, there are other health issues that are not getting sufficient attention and commitment,” he said and impressed upon that it’s time to prioritize the health and welfare of people who use drugs, and their families and communities. “We can succeed if we reinforce our commitment to the basic principles of health and human rights, share responsibility, a balanced approach to reducing supply and demand, and universal access to prevention, treatment and support,” he added. “Today, let us reaffirm our commitment to develop our lives, our communities, our identities without drugs and share the responsibility within our communities and take a stand against a problem that affects us all,” he said in appeal. It may be noted that there are five drug treatments-cum-rehabilitation centres, being supported by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, GoI, while there are 54 Harm Reduction centres across the state. Although the centres are helping many drug users move towards total abstinence, yet it has been informed that there is urgent need for more such centres to rehabilitate the drug users. The World Drug Day program in Kohima was jointly organized by Nagaland Users Network, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society, Kripa Foundation and Kohima Users Network. It was held under the theme “Let’s develop our lives, our communities, our identities without drugs”. Nagaland:  Heady Facts about the Lows of Getting High Following the constitution of a state level coordination committee and an Anti Narcotic Task Force, the committee has been trying every bit to speed up the fight against drug trafficking in the state. The committee was constituted according to the advice of the Government of India and Narcotics Control Bureau. It is a well known fact that the main entry point of narcotic drugs to Nagaland is from Manipur state through the National Highway 29, which is itself a primary transit route for narcotic drugs from across the border with Myanmar. This transit point emerged due to the close proximity of the State to the so called ‘Golden Triangle’. As per the statistics given by the Narcotics cell, 309 cases of drug trafficking was registered last year and 175 persons were arrested as compared to 2013 where 244 cases were registered and 381 persons were arrested. In 2012, 130 cases were registered and 199 persons were arrested. The figures in 2011 stands as 158 cases registered and 226 arrested, and in 2010, 297 cases were registered and 463 persons arrested. All in all, a total of 1138 cases were registered and 1444 persons were arrested within these five years. Speaking as a resource person on the topic ‘supply reduction’ during the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, superintendent of police Narcotics, Jatila Jamir, while stating that Nagaland is used as a corridor for drug trafficking, proposed the need for requirements like X-ray scanner for vehicles and developing E-surveillance using modern technology. “The primary thrust of the police department must be to frustrate illicit transactions at every level and to immobilize those groups that seem to have solved the problem of executing reliable transactions,” Jamir stated. For eradication of drug use and drug trafficking in the State, the SP Narcotics also stated the need for better coordination at all levels. “District level and block level coordination meetings involving churches, NGOs, Self Help Groups is required,” she said. She also urged the Village Council chairman and his council members to be clear about their responsibilities to inform the concerned authorities about illicit cultivation of cannabis or poppy. Such activities are punishable under Section 47 of the NDPS. She also proposed the need to conduct local levels and financiers who finance cultivation/trafficking needs to be identified and action taken. Dimapur: Prodigals’ Home  (Photo) In Dimapur, local nongovernmental organization, Prodigals’ Home, also commemorated International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26 in the organization’s resource centre in Haralu Colony of Dimapur. Staff members, members of the Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre and well wishers attended the event. While speaking about the genesis and significance of the day, K Ela, director of Prodigals’ Home, encouraged every person present and the residents in particular to live a life free from drugs and alcohol. Speaking about the theme day’s theme, “Let’s develop our lives, our communities, our Identities without Drugs”, Maong Jamir, assistant director based his speech on Matthew 5:13 where it was expected for every person to be the ‘salt and light to the world’. He lamented that due to wrong decisions in life many lose their identities in the society. Drawing illustration from the story of Nicky Cruz who was ‘thrown out and trampled by men’ for his habits but later became an instrument in the hands of God, thereby contributing his best to the society, Jamir affirmed his belief that drug and alcohol abusers can restore their real identity by giving up substance abuse. That way, he said, they can become assets to their family and society. Bethesda Youth Welfare Centre Likewise, another nongovernmental organization working in the field of drugs and HIV/AIDS, the Bethesda Youth Welfare Centre of Dimapur observed International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in the Centre for Community Transformation, in Walford colony of the town. The speaker of the event Temjennungsang Jamir, spoke about the significance of the day and reminded the participants to recommit their life to fighting against drug addiction.  More than 70 participants, mostly from the ‘recovering’ background, and members of the staff attended the program. Two recovering addicts also gave testimonies about their lives. They encouraged their peers to have firm commitment in their attempts to overcome their struggle against drug addiction. Livingstone Foundation Higher Secondary School International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed by junior students (from nursery to grade-8) of Livingstone Foundation Higher Secondary School on the day as well. During the occasion, a painting and drawing competition was held under four categories on the themes ‘Say No to Drugs’, ‘Stop Human Trafficking’, ‘My Environment’ and ‘My Imagination’. All together 576 students participated in the Competition. The competition was held during school hours. The coordinator for the competition was Ani Yepthomi, the head of the junior section of the school. She encouraged the students to use their creativity and bring out original works of art on the given themes. The teacher also reminded them that ‘imitation is limitation’ and that their imagination can do far better than imitating others. The results of the competition will be declared on June 29 during the school’s assembly where the first, second, thirds and fourth prizes from each category would be given away to the winning students. Mon:   Elsewhere, in Mon town, International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking was observed at the Private Bus Station in the town. The event for Mon was organised by Mon Users’ Network. Medical Officer of Phomching, Dr Chenjei gave a presentation about the significance of the day. He said that the United Nations declared 26th June as International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking in the year 1988. He emphasized on education, personality development, and facilitating higher education to achieve their goals in life and ensure mingling with different sections of people.