Fr. Joe Mariadhas
[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n this International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, I would like to make my reflections on the status of our state and the society that is passing through turbulent times in combating substance abuse in Nagaland. Drug abuse or substance abuse is on the rise in many forms and the incidence of drug abuse among children and adolescents is higher than the general population. This is notably because youth is a time for experimentation and identity forming. In developed countries drug abuse among youth is generally associated with particular youth subcultures and lifestyles. This causes an acceptance by members of the subcultures of drugs and their use. This is my observation that our youth today are exposed to too many factors both positive and negative that engulfs them with these alluring drugs for short time pleasures and happiness. The pity is that no one realises the lifelong impact that drugs will have on the individuals and the community at large.Drug abuse and addiction is on the rise. According to recent surveys, India has at least seventy million drug addicts. The cultural values are slowly changing, the poorer class is suffering with economic hardship while at the same time there is a massive rise in the upper class, all of this combined with the dwindling support of family (due to increase work and western life) is leading to drug abuse and addiction. This could be also true to our state too as we see rapid development in all aspects of life. The cultural shift, the economic boom, the industrial influx, the job hunt and all forms of globalization has not left our youth from becoming victim to the menace of substance abuse.
Over the past few decades, Nagaland has seen a rise in urbanization and the rural population moving towards cities for quality education and employment, which has caused large migrations to the cities. This is causing our traditional culture and way of life to slowly loosen; the individual outlook and the new way of life is causing them to be very vulnerable to the stresses and strains of the modern way of life. These stresses and strains may cause the person to turn to drugs to calm their thoughts and deal with everyday life. Also there are hardly any places where youth could get help and support. They are left to themselves and this freedom makes them more vulnerable to addictions of different types. Today’s adolescents are exposed to readily available chemicals or drugs that I label as accelerators that propel many of these kids towards alcoholism, addiction, and perhaps even death.
Drug addiction and alcoholism are chronic diseases that affect not only the individual sufferer but also the lives of all those they touch. I have a personal involvement with this reality. We do come across in rehabilitation centres how young people have succumbed to these substances and are unable to overcome or give it up for the rest of their lives. Adolescent substance use and abuse exists, whether we believe it or not. There are many who get hooked into gateway drugs that lead them to substance abuse. Substances are widely used by adolescents as a means of excitement, consolation, rebellion, independence, and as an effort to belong to a peer group, or as a symbol of, social or even sexual maturity. Substance use by adolescents follows certain patterns. Generally, adolescents begin substance use with tobacco and alcohol, prescribed pharmaceutical drugs, with the onset of drinking alcohol usually occurring between the ages of 10 and 13 and some even younger than these. It is a fact that there exists substance abuse among our children whom we thought they are innocent and naive.
Many professionals consider alcoholism as a family disease. “Familial predisposition to alcoholism has firmly been established. Children of alcoholics run a four times higher risk of alcohol abuse than children of non-alcoholic parents”. As the researches have indicated and studies have proved that addiction is more associated with families and the life within the family which is the relationship between parents and children and siblings. To help the families and individuals with addiction, the community based intervention can be a healthy model in the process of recovery and new life. The essential assumption of family-based and multi-systemic interventions is that both the community and family help to create the conditions related to adolescent drug use and abuse. Consequently, parent-child relationships and social environments can aid the adolescent in recovery. The adolescent is viewed in the circumstances of the family, peer, community, and school surroundings, in which the dynamics of those relationships affect and influence the adolescent’s thoughts, perceptions, and behaviours. Some of these perceptions can lead to deviant or destructive behaviour patterns, including substance use. Dysfunctional relationships within any of these systems may lead the adolescent towards problem behaviour. Family education is essential in combating substance abuse.
Alcohol and drug abuse in the community has gained momentum since the statehood in 1963. The church responded to the problem of alcoholism / drug addiction and its associated negative social impact by impressing upon the Govt. of Nagaland for the implementation of Total Prohibition in 1989. In spite of 25 years of Total Prohibition in existence, till date, the alcohol associated human problems has not resolved and continues to affect the society and the church as a whole. Sociologists, religious adherents, and some government agents see addictive behavior as being criminal or sinful. These kinds of social judgments do little to help the addict, yet, they do cause harm, making the addict feel shameful, weak, or helpless. Trying to demand or force a behavior which is in direct conflict with the natural drives and motivations of the individual is dangerous. Thereby the responsibility to address the problem continues. Church is a platform that can create, connect and communicate to the youth the harmful effects of substance abuse and the need to become aware of it as well as avoid it before it occurs in adolescents and school going children. The churches have taken many innovative initiatives to combat substance abuse, still a lot more to be done before we can be safe and secure. A proper orientation and education is need of the hour for our pastors and theologians and also our church personnel who have minimum scientific knowledge about addictions and how to handle them with care. The active role of the churches is vital in this regard.
Ever since an explosive HIV epidemic was reported among injecting heroin users in parts of
Northeast India during the late 1980s, the phenomenon of drug abuse in this part of the country has justifiably attracted much attention. The incidences of drug abuse particularly among the economically and productive population of the state is a matter of concern to us. HIV/AIDS is on the increase even among the rural population and there are communities that are not even aware of the basic facts, in spite of so many social workers, plans and programmes that are implemented by the state. There is link between substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. We cannot sleep over it complacently. Time has come to respond to it in a war footing manner. The future is bleak if we don’t educate and prepare our youth for this battle. Human resources will vanish and we will not be able to create a new society free of addiction.
As the theme for this year “Think health not Drugs” we need to come together to understand the magnitude of the problem, put our resources together, accept the reality and act positively towards freeing our society from this clutches of addiction. We need to generate activities and programs that will engage our youth and children towards positive outcomes. Good recreational facilities, parental control with love and affection, family togetherness, spiritual awakening and focus oriented education, games and sports that can help the youth to ventilate their emotions, early adolescent education with regard to the harmful effects of drug abuse are some means that we can promote towards health and well being of our young brothers and sisters. “Give Hugs and Not Drugs”.
