Lack of rehabs a roadblock for women drug users

DIMAPUR — Counting the number of individuals who lost their lives due to drug abuse may be relatively easy, but the real challenge lies in recognising the profound impact on families who struggle to convince addicts to seek help and rebuild trust within the family.

This perspective was shared by outreach workers from the Community Awareness and Development (CAD) Foundation in Dimapur.

Abeno Humtsoe and Asu Jamir, who have been working with the CAD foundation as outreach workers for almost eight years, emphasised the unique stories of each addict, highlighting the equal importance of individual narratives in understanding the reasons behind their current situations.

“As outreach workers we are trying our best to reach out to the addicts to seek help and turn their life around,” they affirmed together.

According to them, many addicts turn to drugs due to family issues and frustration. Women, in particular, often get involved in drug use either due to having addict partners, engaging in drug sales for financial survival, curiosity or misuse of medicinal substances.

While acknowledging that some individuals from financially-stable backgrounds also struggle with drug abuse, the outreach workers shared that majority comes from low-income families.

The duo also disclosed that many women involved in drug use are also engaged in sex work, often compelled by their spouses to generate money for drugs.

 “Most of the female drug users are married women,” Jamir said.

In Nagaland, the absence of a rehabilitation centre, specifically designed for women, creates a significant gap in addressing substance abuse issues and the mere discussion of women using drugs elicits shock and raised eyebrows, contributing to the prevailing stigma.

Interestingly, societal perceptions treat men using drugs as relatively normal, despite both genders facing societal stigmatisation.

“Initially, there were very few numbers but now the numbers are increasing and currently we have around 320 drug users and sex workers who drop in to our centre for help, which indicates that there are women who are willing to seek help if help is available,” she added.

The CAD Foundation operates from 9 am to 3 pm daily, offering various services such as counselling, recreational activities and building interpersonal connections. It also provides night shelter facilities for homeless women from 6 pm to 8:30 am

The outreach workers disclosed that most women who drop in at night are Naga women.

“Despite these services, it is not an easy task for us to convince women to seek help from our CAD foundation,” Jamir shared, adding that it takes about a year to persuade just one woman to seek assistance.

She was of the view that the government should consider establishing affordable rehabilitation centres for women, as existing facilities for men are quite expensive.

To identify women who use drugs, Humtsoe and Jamir disclosed that they physically visit the hotspots where drug users gather.

As part of their responsibilities, they also distribute free condoms, a practice that faces criticism from certain NGOs, who accuse them of ‘encouraging sex.’

Expressing concern, they called upon apex tribal bodies, student leaders and church leaders not to humiliate or excommunicate individuals struggling with drug use as it would only escalate the situation of the users and their families.

Drawing a parallel to the way communities offer help to the sick, they questioned, “If a church leader or a community can visit a sick person to offer prayers and help, why can’t they do the same with a person suffering from drug abuse?”

They expressed hope that the government would finally provide a well-planned rehabilitation centre for women, or support NGOs genuinely dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by women using drugs.

Drug abuse not exclusive to urban areas

The consumption rate and use of drugs in Nagaland is witnessing an increase in the last few years and the number continues to rise. The notion that drug abuse is exclusive to urban areas is a myth, as there are an increasing number of cases in rural areas.

A significant challenge faced by rural areas is the absence of rehabilitation centres for individuals, both men and women, seeking recovery.

A concerning aspect, highlighted by an NGO worker from a remote district, is the involvement of law enforcement agencies in substance abuse. The worker, who wished to remain anonymous, pointed out that police personnel, who are also victims of substance abuse, often have easy access to drugs when on duty.

Even if they are not selling drugs, they can inadvertently contribute to the availability of drugs to consumers due to their easy access, the worker highlighted.

The NGO worker emphasised the limited role they can play, saying that they cannot force individuals to change their choices, but only offer assistance and support to those willing to come out of substance abuse.

Stigma hinders women from seeking help

The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Phek district, Dr. Pritpal Kaur Batra, has been actively addressing the issue of drug abuse since her assignment as the first SP of Noklak district in 2020. The

SP acknowledged that women are also involved in drug-related issues, including drug peddling, acting as carriers, or being drug abusers, similar to men, although the numbers may be lower.

Batra highlighted that women who use drugs often face stigma and economic disadvantages. These women typically come from families with substance use problems. While women have unique concerns related to gender, there is a risk that programmes for women may receive lower priority due to limited or no discussion, she noted.

She also observed that women are willing to seek treatment, but stigma and lack of awareness about rehabilitation options can discourage them from seeking help.

Recalling her posting in Noklak district, Batra told Eastern Mirror about ‘Potters House,’ which works towards rehabilitation of drug user.

Operated by the NGO Globe Nagaland, this facility has been running for the last two years and provides vocational training to unemployed individuals and school dropouts.

Starting this year, the Potter’s House has expanded its focus to include substance users, aiming to rehabilitate individuals struggling with drug abuse.

Chingmei Phom, who works at Potters House, mentioned that the facility is currently offering rehabilitation to a woman who is facing challenges with drug abuse.

Upon learning her situation, the team approached her to offer assistance in her recovery journey. As a divorcee living alone with no support, she agreed to receive help and is currently staying at the facility while working towards recovery, Phom shared.

The woman reportedly started using drugs at an early age due to associations with friends involved in drug peddling.

Phom pointed out that the issue of substance abuse by women has often been neglected in discussions, mainly due to societal taboos or other reasons.

(This story is the fourth and last in a series of reports on substance abuse among women in Nagaland)

Also read: Nagaland’s drug crisis: ‘Drugs will slowly kill us….We can only wait for it’