Cardboard collection a lifeline for drug users in Imphal
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 25 2025: Faced with rising addiction and limited means to sustain their drug use, a growing number of drug-dependent individuals in Imphal have turned to collecting and selling discarded cardboard boxes as a means of survival.

What began as a desperate act has now become a daily routine for many, with cardboard collection emerging as a lifeline for those caught in the grip of addiction.

Several drug users can now be seen scouring the roadside waste in search of cardboard, which they collect and sell to scrape traders to meet their daily dose of drugs.

On average, they reportedly earn between Rs 500 and Rs 8,000 daily through such activity.

This shift reflects a new survival strategy among users, many of whom can no longer rely on family or petty theft due to growing awareness and tighter community vigilance.

According to sources familiar with the situation, this group largely comprises users of heroin, a highly addictive and widely used opioid in the state.

Drugs like heroin and others classified as psychoactive substances directly affect the brain, altering mood, behaviour and decision-making abilities.

Overtime, users show signs of deteriorating mental health, loss of discipline, changes in social behaviour and breakdown of family and community ties.

Drug consumption in the state takes various forms, including sniffing, smoking and injecting.

Among these, injecting and sniffing drugs are particularly prevalent because they deliver a faster and more intense "kick" or high.

However, repeated use leads to dependency, making it extremely difficult for users to quit.

Those who attempt to stop often experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, tremors, irritability, and body aches, which are only alleviated by consuming more drugs, thus perpetuating the cycle of addiction.

Experts estimate that there are around 70,000 opioid users in Manipur, including approximately 35,000 individuals who inject drugs.

These users are spread across different communities and often receive treatment at various drug rehabilitation centres.

Government-run institutions like RIMS and JNIMS also offer Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) to help users gradually manage their dependency.

Recent data reveals that adolescents are among the most vulnerable.

About 70 percent of the state's drug users fall in the 13-18 year age group, followed by 25 percent in the 18-25 bracket.

Those aged above 25 comprise a much smaller percentage, and a worrying 1.2 percent of users are below the age of 13 .

These figures align closely with global studies on the early onset of substance use.

While heroin overdose deaths were once common, fatalities have reportedly decreased in recent years, due to the availability of naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug now stocked in hospitals and drug de-addiction centres.

Treatment for drug dependency is currently provided at several rehabilitation centres across the state, including through Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) programs at RIMS and JNIMS .

Comment