EVEN SCHOOL CHILDREN ENSNARED IN THE DEADLY HABIT
Nagaland is plagued with many serious issues which have only been given a mention and then ignored or forgotten but which cannot be brushed under the carpet any longer as they pose imminent threat to the present and future generations. Besides increasing anti-socialism, the state has an underbelly of rampant drug use among the youth some as shockingly young as below ten years of age.
Most alarmingly, the growing incidence of drug use among minors and women is increasing and made worse due to lack of a rehabilitation centre exclusively for women drug users.
It may be mentioned that the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is marked on June 26 every year to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse.
Perhaps, districts located along the Indo-Myanmar international border are facing worst crisis of rampant drug addiction among which ‘Sun Flower’ being the most widely available and used substance.
At Noklak district headquarters, it is reported that over 300 drug users are undergoing therapy for rehabilitation. The situation in the border areas has become critical and pose a huge problem in terms of destroying the future generation. At Dimapur, the drug scene is also menacing as many, especially school children and college students are being enticed into taking drugs and which has become a dangerous trend.
According to Medical Officer in charge of Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) at Dimapur District Hospital Dr Tahito Veshpu, drug users were mostly in the age group 18-50 years.
The name of a particular drug ‘Sun Flower’ or ‘SF’ has become a byword among many youths across Nagaland especially school going children.
Considered the cheapest and crudest form of heroin (opiates) where other drugs like sleeping pills, spasmodart, alprazolam, etc, are mixed as per the requirements of the addict, SF is consumed by sniffing the fumes of the substance burned on a paper, snorted and even injected.
The very fact that ‘SF’ is affordable and gives the kick desired, has led to its growing popularity. It was learned that many addicts were not even aware of the mixture as they just consumed it to experience short- lived ecstasy.
As per sources, the SF powder is peddled in colourful tobacco packets/containers and is available from Rs 500 and upwards, depending on the quantity and this affordability has made it as the most widely used drug. When purchased in bulk, the price of ‘SF’ becomes more affordable for minors.
This reporter also visited a rehabilitation Centre- Silas Care Centre- at Dimapur where some of the users in their teens and many of them coming from broken homes, say they picked up the habit to escape mental stress. Some took to drugs due to peer pressure or curiosity.
Speaking to Nagaland Post, a 40-year old user and from the porous international border area, confessed to having used drugs such as -spasmoproxyvon (SP) and Relipen (RP) since he was in Class VII. He gave up the habit for 12 years but relapsed. During the interim period, he used to be actively involved with a church. Then after he got into the business of drug peddling to sustain his family, he distanced himself from the church.
Another college dropout, in his 20s from Dimapur confessed that he tried ‘SF’ for the first time out of curiosity since most of his college friends were into the habit.
The drop out recalled that he began by first smoking weed (psychotropic) and later switched to SF powder to get a better kick.
Interestingly, he also revealed, that users can also call up some numbers to order the drug which is then delivered to the addresses.
Though the youth mentioned certain hotspots at Dimapur, the names of colonies are being withheld.
Talking to this reporter, a woman drug user in her 30s and currently residing in a rehab centre, disclosed that she first tried pills and later sniffed SF on several occasions.
She also claimed to have seen and met many young girls and women living promiscuously to fund their need for drugs. Some young mothers from broken marriages confided that the drug was a temporary and unhealthy escape and once addicted led to more problems mentally, physically and socially.
The person in-charge of the rehab centre when the woman is an inmate, lamented that there was no centre dedicated to rehabilitation of women drug users. He said due to absence of women rehabs, the women drug users had to be accommodated in some women centres or accommodated in rehab centres along with males or sent to prayer centres.
Silas Care Centre director Nuklu Longkumer emphasised that the SCC required completion of full rehab course instead of giving detoxification camps for a few days.
Nuklu said detoxification was not viable since drug users were not taught holistically to handle life’s challenges and when the craving returns, they relapse into the hold habit.
This reporter also talked with clinical psychiatrist and consultant psychiatrist at Nikos Hospital here Dr Ayang Longchar who explained the harmful effects of drugs and substance abuse.
Dr Ayang Longchar said opiods like brown sugar or SF powder induces a very intense but brief euphoria called the “rush” followed by a profound sense of tranquillity lasting several hours. This is followed by drowsiness, mood swings, mental clouding, apathy and slow motor movements.
She said the long-term effects of the drug induced psychotic, manic features that result in anxiety and depression. These also lead to bursts of uncontrolled anger and aggression and prolonged use also causes kidney problems, TB, drug-induced hepatitis, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, etc.
“No drug is less or more dangerous than the other. Any drug used in more quantities is harmful. Weed or marijuana taken in large quantities and on daily basis affects chemicals in the brain, which can lead to all sorts of mental disorders, including schizophrenia, mania, depression, bipolar disorder, etc,” she was categorical.
A member of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) who had remained drug-free for more than 10 years claimed that rehab helped him get back to reality and also instilled in him a sense of discipline. He said after giving up the habit, he has regain self-respect by building relationship with God.
The former drug user also advised those who wanted to kick the habit, to not live in denial but “accept” their condition and seek help.