EMN
Dimapur June 30
Contrary to popular belief substance use and abuse is not just an individual problem. It is the manifest of a larger socio-economic, socio-political issue problem and even an issue of human rights. Therefore, an approach that is holistic, an approach that embraces appropriate strategies developed to prevent, treat and ensure social reintegration is required to address the issue. The same can only come about when a robust system to coordinate the collective efforts of the government and civil society is in place to tackle the challenges of demand and supply of drugs.
Director of Kripa Forundation Nagaland, Abou Mere, in a statement today, said people who use drugs or alcohol and seeking genuine assistance to lead a sober life have no recourse for such treatment. Abou Mere said it is the duty of the state to provide options for treatment and to aid such individuals to be re-integrated into the society. The state must, he said, provide avenues of a secured livelihood while providing professional help and build a strong information network to prevent the individuals from relapsing into their previous habits.
It’s has been proven beyond doubt that drugs and alcohol use among the young can be controlled by putting in place a set of priority precautions labelled as “environmental prevention”. Here focus is placed on changing the policies and conditions in the community and prioritizing such factors so that the availability of substances and its demand is reduced.
With the State government having failed to make any significant investments in public awareness at the community level or even to provide treatment options it is imperative that a State Drug Policy is required to provide guidance to address drugs and alcohol abuse as a public health and human rights issue.
Abou Mere reiterated that it has become pertinent that a State policy is developed to ensure a collective response to address the multi-dimensional problems of drug/substance use and abuse in the State and prevent the catastrophic loss of human life in Nagaland.
