The clutches of substance abuse are getting tighter and need to be broken with a collective effort of all stakeholders !!
The rise in drug addiction amongst the youth of Manipur is a gnawing concern. The alarming situation has led to massive operations being carried out in the state to weed out the menace and also control the drug trade in the region. With Covid-19 affecting the supply of addictive drugs, a number of users are facing fatality owing to withdrawal symptoms. The double whammy of the pandemic combined with addiction has led to an alarming situation and calls for collective efforts to be pledged on this Anti-Drug Day.
What is also frightening is the rapid increase in the number of Intravenous Drug Users (IDU) in the north eastern states that has also led to rising number of HIV cases with use of shared syringes getting rampant. The prevalence rate of HIV in Manipur is 1.43% according to data provided by Excise and Narcotics Department in September 2020.
Widespread Concerns
Substance abuse concerns are not only restricted to Manipur but also to the neighboring states and the country as a whole. According to data released by Assam Police, the state witnessed a significant jump in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases in the last decade in the state. While year 2010 had 180 cases, the number climbed up to 1,023 cases in 2020.
Easy availability owing to a rise in the number of traffickers in the region has caused widespread adaptation of this fatal substance abuse habit, especially in the younger & more vulnerable generation. Another cause of grave concern is the spread of this fatal virus to the rural areas from the urban regions, causing irreparable damage. Mental health experts attribute this rise to a number of causes including financial troubles, history of drug abuse in the family, domestic problems among others.
Spoilt for Choices
From traditional plant-based drugs to synthetic drugs, the world of narcotics substances, pushed through a strong network of drug cartels,is now flooded with options. Rising reports of substance abuse by well-known names with huge fan following has further fueled massive addiction in the society.
While Alcohol is the most common psychoactive substance used by Indians, Cannabis and Opioids are the next commonly used substances. A report on ‘Magnitude of Substance Use in India’ by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India elaborates further on the various forms of drugs being consumed in the country.It states how almost 2.1% of the country’s population (2.26 crore individuals) use opioids which includes Opium, Heroin (most common opioid used) and a variety of pharmaceutical opioids.
The report shares how Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram have the highest prevalence of opioid use (more than 10%) in the general population. With highly prevalent substance abuse and subsequent disorders, it is the need of the hour to have widespread investment and efforts in providing treatment for substance use disorders. As collated data suggests there is a gross mismatch between demand and availability of treatment services for substance use conditions in the country. This calls for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder response aided with large scale capacity building mechanismthat can provide the way forward towards creating a healthy nation.
Another aspect that needs attention is the rehabilitation of those affected by drug usage. With the global pandemic creating ambiguity in every facet of life, fear of job loss and career uncertainty due to economic downturn, it has led to a stressful scenario with the younger population finding an escape route in drug consumption.
The time to act, and act in unison is now as the nation has to freed from this menace that has been eating up the core of the future generation. The nation should move towards a healthier tomorrow and people to be free from the clutches of these dreaded substances.
Author : Shri Philem Rohan Singh – Cyclist & Social Activist and Founder of ‘Cycling for Humanity’
