The Yuletide spirit manifested in a myriad ways in the Northeast. While Bryan Adams gave Shillong ‘a night to remember’ last week, Nagaland hosted its annual extravaganza, the Hornbill Festival, this month, featuring the Native Jazz Quartet from the United States of America and the Welsh folk musician, Gareth Bonello, among others.
In neighbouring Mizoram, which has a predominantly Christian population, the advent of Christmas has been a harbinger of hope for families grappling with the trauma of addiction. There has been a significant rise in drug abuse. In just three months this year, 2,297 traffickers were arrested and 30 vehicles seized. A baseline survey by the social welfare department on the extent and pattern of drug abuse in the state showed an over-prevalence of stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, especially in areas bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh.
With drug trafficking from Myanmar being routed through Mizoram, especially after the recent turmoil in Manipur, the government, the Church and the organisations battling addiction in the state — such as Shalom and Ray of Hope — are trying their utmost to curb the spectre of fatal fallouts. Detoxification camps are held and addicts engaged in activities that help wean them away from substance abuse. Many cannot withstand the withdrawal symptoms and shun efforts to help them.
The director of Shalom, Dr Chawng lungmuana, who visited the Myanmar border this weekend, said: “The market rate of opioid drugs (heroin in particular) has decreased during the past year, so we assume that supplies have increased. The seizure happens from both Myanmar side and Assam side. The narcotics department says seizures from Assam could have passed through Moreh in Manipur and trafficked to Mizoram. We need to strengthen social prevention interventions as well as strategic addressal of substance dependence. Smaller multiple treatment facilities are required, particularly out-patient services as well as more medical professionals.”
The state’s Social Defence and Rehabilitation Board highlighted evidence of drug use among children — “Among high school students, 12.8 per cent ever received any counselling and 4.3 per cent received medical treatment among those who tried drugs. Among the Higher Secondary school students who reported trying out any drug, 8.8 per cent had received counselling and 4 per cent medical treatment.”
According to the social worker, Samuel Lalzarliana Sailo, of Ray of Hope, “Substance abuse remains a significant issue in Mizoram. Research suggests that the high rate of substance abuse is related to mortality. Despite substantial efforts made by the government and the Young Mizo Association to reduce drugs supply, the availability of heroin at low prices and the easy accessibility of other drugs have contributed to the ongoing heroin epidemic in Mizoram, which serves as an international drug trafficking route for precursor drugs from India and illegal drugs from the Golden Triangle heading into India and beyond...”
Asked about the recent spurt in addiction, he said, “Many believe that the ongoing unrest in Manipur and Myanmar has increased the availability of heroin... largely due to the influx of refugees, who are our brothers and sisters by blood, but may resort to involvement in this trade for their survival. The battle against illegal drugs and efforts to curb their supply in Mizoram can be exceedingly challenging unless neighbouring states or countries share the same commitment to combat this issue. Furthermore, if insurgent groups in those areas are funded by this illegal trade, it can complicate the situation even more.”
Given these challenges, one hopes the blessings of Christmas encompass these blue hills with a resolve to combat the menace and usher in reasons to rejoice.
