As per data given at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held at Hotel Japfü Kohima on Monday, 16,441 Intravenous Drug Users (IDU) registered under 45 Targeted Interventions (TI) projects in the state were given care, support and treatment (CST) from April 2016 to March 2017.
Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) project director, Dr. Ngangshimeren, highlighting the activities conducted by the organisation also stated that out of 4007 IDUs registered under 31 TI- Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centres in the state, 614 completed the treatment during this period.
Further, NSACS project director stated that out of the 22, 519 tested in TI-Integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC), 22 were tested positive and started Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART).
Under TI-STI, 54,179 UDUs attended and 67 treated, under TI-condom, 8,15,000 condoms were distributed to IDUs and under needle syringe exchange programme, 15,04,210 were distributed to IDUs.
Meanwhile, speaking as chief guest on the occasion, Dr. Nicky Kire, MLA urged upon society to combat the menace through a united effort with a proper plan and budget as envisaged in the Nagaland State Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Police 2016 which was passed by the state assembly
Dr. Kire stressed on the need for more detox and drug treatment centres in the state to combat drug abuse.
He reminded that everyone has a stake in combating the menace of drugs and illicit trafficking and in particular, urged organizations to play their role and ensure that government fully implemented the Act that was passed in the assembly.
The programme held on the theme “Listen First” was organized by RRTC NE-11, Kripa Foundation Nagaland, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Nagaland Social Welfare Department, Nagaland Police (Narcotic branch), Nagaland Users Network and FHI360.
NSACS project director, Dr. Ngangshimeren, in his address, enunciated that the objective of the programme should be to reach out to the masses and educate everyone about the dangers of substance abuse and its addiction.
He said the problem of drug trafficking required a two-pronged approach: cutting the supply chain by law enforcement agency and reducing the social demand of abusive drugs by creating awareness about the ill effects of drug abuse among the population both at government and NGO levels.
IGP (Crime) Kewetso Mero in his address, informed that the state police has arrested 560 people for smuggling liquor and banned drugs during the past 18 months.
He pointed out that 9711 kg of ganja, 63.75 kg of opium, 12 grams of heroin, 4.5 kg of brown sugar, 1 kg of Yaba, 5,27,626 spasmo proxyvon capsules, 12,297 bottles of cough syrup and 2,02,919 bottles of India Made Foreign Liquor were seized during this period. Mero opined that organizing such programmes would sensitize the masses against the effects of drug abuse.
He said there could be more banned substances entering the state but lamented that the law enforcement did not have required manpower, gadgets and skill to use gadgets to identify and detect such materials.
Mero said the law enforcement agencies were not only to undertake preventive work by apprehending drug traffickers but also to sensitise the masses against the effects of drug abuse.
He further pointed that Nagaland was not only used as a route for trafficking, but local people were also slowly and discreetly resorting to cultivation like cannabis. “This trend needs to be addressed urgently and taken seriously by all sections of society,” he said.
Kripa foundation Nagaland director, Abou Mere, in his address said the occasion was an opportunity for the health activists and people using drugs to share the thoughts, concerns and visions in the spirit of dialogue and mutual respect. He said this was to advocate with the government and stakeholders for a more humane drug policy and implementation of relevant programmes. He said substance use and abuse were not just an individual problem, but a socio-economic, socio-political and human rights issue.
Mere said a holistic approach and appropriate strategies were needed to be developed and implemented so prevention, harm reduction and other health care services, treatment and social re-integration were ensured through effective private public partnership.
He also appealed to the state government to implement the Nagaland State Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Policy 2016 passed by the assembly.
Parliamentary secretary for Mechanical and Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation (NSMDC), Er. Vikho-o Yhoshü, also addressed the gathering.
The programme was led by NSLSA coordinator Akumla Longchari, welcome address was delivered by Ketho Angami (NUN), invocation prayer was said by KABA Associate Pastor Tiatoshi, special songs were presented by Choir Central Baptist Church Kohima while Kewe-u Kenye, OSD DSW, gave closing remark. Programme was attended by NUN, NSACS, Police department, students, NGOs , Kripa members and others.