Sans proper rehab facilities drug abuse grips Ukhrul
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, November 02 2023:
Ukhrul district is currently facing a grim prospect with drug abuse and addiction devastating the lives of many young people - the future pillars of society.
Cases of unemployment, domestic violence, robberies, road mishaps, and other social nuisances related to drug abuse are on the rise.
On the flip side, there is a growing number of broken families and school dropouts triggered by drug addiction, turning many into social outcasts.
Amid this prevailing scenario, Michael Shaiza, BJP state co-incharge of political programmes & meetings, has revealed that the easy availability' of drugs due to unbridled drug trafficking is at the root of the problem, which is further aggravated by the lack of efficient de-addiction and rehabilitation facilities in the district.
"Drugs present a major threat to our youth, and we are all at risk of losing our younger generation to drug addiction unless we take action early enough.
Thus, collective efforts are needed to address the problem," Shaiza told The People's Chronicle in an interaction in Ukhrul town, here, on Wednesday.
Shaiza, who is also the president of the Ecological Rehabilitators' Association (ERA), opines that an integrated multi-sectoral approach is essential to combat this menace.
The need of the hour is for all stakeholders, including the district administration, medical, education, social welfare, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant government departments, as well as CSOs, village-level women/mother organisations, churches, and village authorities to work together," he said.
Expressing concern over the prevailing drug scenario in the district, he informed that nowadays, opioid products are easily and widely available at a cheap price, compared to the 1980s and 90s when opioids were hard to come by.
"Back then, most addiction cases had to do with the use of cough syrups and tablets containing Codeine," he recalled, adding that there was, however, a gradual shift toward opioids.
"And today, opioids are readily available, and anybody can easily get hold of them.
This is a major factor in drug abuse and addiction," he added.
Adolescents in the age group of 10-19 are vulnerable to drug exposure these days, while many youngsters in the age group of 18-35 are already affected by addiction, according to a DACO (Ukhrul & Kamjong) report.
The number of existing Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in the twin districts is estimated to be around 2800, while as many as 94 cases of heroin overdose have been recorded in Ukhrul District Hospital and four similar cases in Kamjong from January to October this year.
So far, UDH has registered 23 deaths due to heroin overdose this year.
The actual figures are likely to be higher, as many people may not admit to their addiction or seek help due to the stigma associated with drugs.
Contrary to common perception, there are many individuals addicted to drugs and substances who are ready to seek help in fighting addiction.
"I have seen for myself some addicts who want to give up drugs and become productive citizens.
Unfortunately, many of them are at a loss when it comes to where to seek de-ad-diction treatment and rehabilitation," Shaiza revealed.
He pointed out that while the government s Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) is meant for a maximum of 100 clients/patients, there is a need for a thousand more.
As per the DACO report, there is no rehabilitation or de-addiction centre at the Ukhrul District Hospital at present.
It is learned that there used to be a government-run de-addiction centre at PHC, Wino bazar in Ukhrul town years back but it is no longer available.
He contends that the lack of proper rehab facilities in the district has been a major obstacle in fighting drug addiction.
"People have nowhere to go for treatment because of the poor facilities.
Without proper infrastructure, many individuals turn to the streets for survival.
This has led to an increase in drug usage and, subsequently, a rise in drug-related crime," he related.
Shaiza, who in his own capacity has lent a helping hand to some of those affected by addiction, said that there are some NGO-run rehabilitation centres currently operating in the district, but most of them do not function according to prescribed norms.
" Ihey do not have doctors or qualified counsellors trained in harm reduction or treating/reha-bilitating addicts of drugs and substances.
Such places have only become a dumping ground where the addicts are sent to by their hapless parents by paying a fee," he claimed.
He continued that such centres were found to be arbitrarily giving the inmates a dose of painkiller (Tramadol), antispasmodic (Dicyclomine), and mood elevator like Alprazolam, Chlordiazepoxide among others under no medical guidance or supervision.
In many cases, the inmates are discharged after a period, often because the parents can't afford the fees or other needs, he said, adding that the inmates tend to relapse to opioids, unable to bear the withdrawal syndromes and because of the unavailability of the drugs they were given at the centres.
He lamented that such centres have rather made the inmates addicted to Alprazolam, Tramadol, and Cyclopam.
"Many addicts have been sent to these so-called rehab and de-addiction centres, but without much positive outcome.
While such centres function without any competent authorities supervising their activities, there's no alternative available at present.
Even the district administration has done nothing concrete to provide these facilities," he rued.
Shaiza then called for all de-addiction and rehabilitation centres to be supervised by the authorities concerned and manned by qualified doctors, nursing staff, and counsellors trained in the held.
He said the government must provide proper rehab and de-addiction facilities to break the cycle of drug addiction.
"The facilities should be staffed by qualified professionals knowledgeable in addressing the various aspects of addiction, such as psychological and physical dependencies.
Proper counselling and guidance should also be provided to those in need of help," Shaiza added.