Organizers of RRTC NE-II along with participants during the one day orientation and sensitization workshop on Drug Abuse Prevention & Voluntary Blood Donation at Kohima, June 17. (Morung Photo)
Kohima June 17 : Alarmed by the high rate use of tobacco in Nagaland, especially by School children in and around Kohima, the need to minimize the trends has been highlighted at the “Orientation and Sensitization Workshop on Drug Abuse Prevention & Voluntary Blood Donation” for educational institutions held today, at Hotel Millennium. After thorough deliberation, the workshop came up with some action plan, which will be forwarded to Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the department concerned and educational institutions.
The Action Plan included schools to identify the users according to its suitable method, to train a counselor (train a teacher with less work, where that particular teacher should also abstain from all kinds of tobacco products and related things), section of school allotted to display all necessary information related to tobacco, drugs etc., a day in a month should be dedicated to discuss the matter with the students and do the necessary survey to find about the status of the problem, involve the students and to solve the problems through them, to conduct awareness programme for teachers and parents and to impress the government to sponsor or appoint full fledged counselor in each school to maintain good health.
The participants held a series of discussion trying to understand the prevailing issues of students’ indulgence in use of gateway Drugs such as inhalants (Dentrite, Erasex, Gutka, Alcohol etc) to curb the issue in the institution with proper co-ordination. Many concerned teachers pointed out on the use of gutka by the students which is indeed a tough task for them to put an end besides countless warnings.
Earlier, Abou Mere Director, Kripa Foundation highlighted on drug abuse scenario of Kohima district. Basing on research done by Kripa Foundation, he said as the problem further compounded, it was confirmed that HIV cases had been detected among the Injecting Drug Users in 1990 where Manipur and Nagaland is among the six HIV high prevalent states in India. Nagaland HIV prevalence rate stand approximately 0.78 percent, to 1.5 percent (reduced from 35%) due to intervention of various civil societies and large scale awareness campaign. Economically, assuming 50,000 drug abusers & alcoholics in Nagaland, Mere said the state spend Rs. 180 crores annually on drugs and alcohol products.
Highlighting on drug abuse prevention activities by NSID/MSJE Dr. P.Ngullie, chairman, Kripa Foundation maintained that according to the Study on Drug Abuse there are 74 Respondents in urban area between the age group from 20 – 30 years and educational level remains 96% above secondary. Stating that it is not easy to change a person who is into addiction, however Ngullie added that Kripa foundation is giving its best effort to normalize their life. Basing on reports he also asserted that the causes of addiction predominantly happens due to curiosity (60.8%), peer pressure (47.2%), 52.6% showed secondary addiction (gambling, sex, womanizing) and the cause of relapse takes place due to personal problem (37.8%), peer pressure (33.7%), loneliness (31.1 %), frustration (27%), curiosity (25.6%) still continue to “hang around” with using friends after treatment 48.7% . There are also some reasons for taking Treatment which may be because the person is willing to give up which was found (56.7%) and family pressure (24.3%).11, Ngullie said.
The programme was organized by Regional Resource and Training Centre North East II in collaboration with All Nagaland Private School Association (Kohima unit). The programme was sponsored by Nationals institute of Social Defence, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
Submitted by
Abu Mere
Kripa Nagaland
Director
