International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: Drug addicts share their real life stories

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 26 (EMN): Stories of how people found their way back home from drug abuse and their yearning for respect from the society echoed at the Capital Convention Centre, in Kohima on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.

“It’s difficult to come out as drug abuser,” said Nukshinaro, who started abusing drugs since 11th standard. She is a member of the Nagaland Users Network and a women representative member at the Network of Nagaland Drugs and AIDS Organisation (N-NAGA DAO)

“Why aren’t we able to create any women leaders from drug user’s background? Why aren’t there any women?” she asked while speaking on behalf of drug abusers among women. The cases of drug abuse and HIV may have reduced but its prevalence among women will increase if the issue is not addressed, she stated.

She claimed that the 90-90-90, United Nations’ target to end the AIDS epidemic by 2020, will not be achieved if the issues among women are not addressed. She said that she wished to see more women coming out and addressing this issue.

“Please do not judge us by our past,” she requested.

“Girls are not expected to get married and have life (sic)” while men are expected to have a life after recovering from drug abuse. “Why can’t society expect women to have a second chance?” she asked. “We want to contribute to the society, give us a second chance,” she added.

“I was branded as a hopeless drug addict; looked down upon by the society and thought that like many of my friends, would end up dying a premature death because of my active addiction that was proving to get worse day by day (sic). I dropped out of college and started indulging in all kinds of anti-social activities just to support my addiction out of desperation,” shared Ato, a former drug abuser.

He said that he started taking drugs during his college days and the vicious cycle of addiction continued for eight years.

During the darkest days of his life, he found a ray of hope in the form of Opiate Substitution therapy in 2006, implemented by Kripa Foundation, Kohima and supported by the department for International Development, UK as a donor agency.

“Support from the agency through psycho-social interventions, therapeutic support of my drug using friends and motivation from my families, my distorted life was gradually restored and for the first time I stepped into recovery from active addiction,” he added.

13 years after his initial treatment, his life has returned to normal and he is contributing towards the society and enjoying a sober life without drugs and alcohol, he said.

“There is life beyond addiction and every addict deserves respect and a chance which cannot and should not be denied by anybody under any circumstances,” Ato said. He appealed to the departments concerned, stakeholders, and NGOs to introspect on the views towards people who use drugs and fight against the menace of drug abuse in the society.

Director of Kripa Foundation, Nagaland Abou Mere, who is a former drug abuser said that society usually ostracise or term them (addicts) as “hopeless” in life.

From experimenting drugs to addiction-extortion and creating havoc, he said many of his friends have died of drug overdose, have been shot death, and have faced pre-mature death. He also said that his mother always prayed for him on his bedside whenever he came home after abusing drugs. Her mother even developed a heart disease because of his drug addiction, he shared.

“We are suffering from addiction disease and need help, not punishment,” he said, adding that family is the biggest player in helping an abuser into recovery.

Incorporating a syllabus against drug abuse at schools and colleges, compulsory vocational trainings, engaging young people in illustrious tasks, developing sufficient avenue for the educated youths, having strict vigil against the movements and availability of the substance, early detection and guidance, support and counselling are some of the other ways to fight against drug abuse, he informed.

Nagaland Governor PB Acharya, who attended the occasion, said that the government has a great responsibility on this issue and advised all to be “very careful” in selecting friends. The stigma against women is very serious unlike man when it comes to drug abuse, he added.

The governor asked the churches to come forward and play a dominant role in addressing the issue of drug abuse. He also encouraged more rehabilitation centres to be started in order to address the problem.

The principal secretary of school education and SCERT Menukhol John said that drug abuse and HIV/AIDS topics have been incorporated into school textbooks. He also encouraged former abusers to help their peers in their rehabilitation.

Appeals state govt. for budgetary allocations

The Kripa Foundation, N-NAGA DAO, Kohima and Nagaland Users’ Network Kohima have submitted a letter to the governor appealing the government to intervene and take necessary action regarding budgetary allocations to address substance prevention and treatment with holistic approach.

The appeal seeks social re-integration with a robust system to coordinate the collective effort of both the government and civil society, and ensure the implementation of the Nagaland State Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Policy of 2016.

“This will in turn prevent substance use, provide scientific evidence treatment for those who require treatment and social reintegration, enabling them to lead a sober life and prevent unnecessary loss of human life from effects of drugs and alcohol,” the letter read.