OST a way for IDU to refrain from drugs
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 29, 2011: The Oral Substitution Therapy (OST) an initiative taken up under the sponsorship of UK based Department For International Development which was introduced in the state in 2006 has become an important way for the Injecting Drug Users (IDU) to return to their normal life.

The project was jointly implemented by Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA) and Australian International Health Institute (AIHI) in Manipur and Nagaland in 2006.Seven different NGOs are implementing the project at nine different sites in the state in which 985 IDUs were provided benefits.

National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) became the national implementing agency from 2008 onwards.

There are 3221 registered IDUs under the project in Manipur on December last year out of which 1267 were provided OST treatment.

The seven NGOs who have been implementing the project in Manipur are SASO, MNP+, Care Foundation, Dedicated People's Union, SHALOM, Hope and Citizen's Alliance for Re-Empowerment (Care-Ukhrul).

Chief Functionary, Care-Ukhrul, Leisan Chingrin said that when they started the project in Ukhrul, villagers and church leaders stopped the project citing the project as an act against the Bible.

Nurse of CARE-Ukhrul administering Buprenorphine to an OST patient

However, they realized the value of the project and its merits, they stepped back and support to them.

He said that many IDUs including five women have refrain themselves from drugs and returned to their normal lives.

Thoibi (name changed) wife of Thoiba (name changed) of Ukhrul said that her husband used to be a drug user in the past.

When he was a drug user, she had faced many difficulties and inconvenience in maintaining her family without a single cooperation from her husband.

However with the help of Care-Ukhrul he was provided OST treatment and now leading a normal life.

He had refrain using drugs since 2009.She said that family love and care is very much important in bringing back the drug users to normal life.

Manojkumar from Pallel, who had refrain from using drugs after he undergo OST treatment is now leading a normal life and has became a school teacher.

He stressed the need for availing the OST in every Drop-In-Centres.

According to Dr Angomcha Psychiatrist, Bishnupur District Hospital, the Oral Substitution Therapy (OST) is part of the Harm Reduction Programme.

In the therapy a non harmful drug is used in place of the drugs.

The drug is kept under the tongue instead of injecting.

This is a legal treatment which will reduce affection of HIV and overdose problems.

The therapy also reduces violent acts which might have come out of the drug users.

It has no side effects.