By - Akangjungla
The ghost of drug abuse in Nagaland continues to eclipse its people and entirety. Recent revelations at the launch of an ‘Online Competition on Substance Abuse Prevention’ in 2024 laid bare the staggering scale of the crisis: a 2021 survey by the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment found 6.24 lakh substance users in Nagaland state, including 1.11 lakh children and 26,000 women.
During his October 2024 visit to Mon district, Nagaland Governor La Ganesan sounded a grim warning about the drug epidemic ravaging the State, particularly its youth. Speaking to officials and civil society groups, he underscored the devastating ripple effects of addiction. Drug abuse not only destroys individuals but brings untold misery to families and society as a whole, he emphasised, calling for urgent, unified action.
The statistics paint a dire picture, but they also expose systemic failures. Nagaland’s demographic locations have long made it a transit route for narcotics; however, the State’s struggle goes beyond geography. Decades of conflict, economic stagnation and inadequate rehabilitation infrastructure have created fertile ground for addiction to thrive. Today, heroin, methamphetamine and prescription drugs circulate freely, are ensnaring not just unemployed youth but also schoolchildren and homemaker, a reality reflected in the alarming number of women and minors among users.
Governor Ganesan’s appeal for collaboration between civil society and law enforcement is a step in the right direction, but it must translate into concrete measures. Strengthening border surveillance and dismantling trafficking networks is critical, but so is addressing the demand side of the equation. Rehabilitation centers remain sadly inadequate, and harm reduction strategies are yet to be scaled up. Meanwhile, the social stigma surrounding addiction discourages many from seeking help, enabling a cycle of silence and suffering.
Education and prevention hold the key to long-term change. Schools must integrate substance abuse awareness into curricula, while community leaders and faith-based organizations can leverage their influence to shift attitudes. The government’s online competition on prevention is a welcome initiative, but sustained efforts are needed to embed anti-drug messaging in public consciousness. Equally vital are economic interventions, vocational training and job creation can offer vulnerable youth alternatives to the lure of escapism.
Nagaland’s fight against drugs is a test of its collective resolve. The Governor’s call to action must stir up not just policymakers but every citizen. Families, educators and local leaders must unite to create a safety net for those at risk, while survivors of addiction deserve empathy. The stakes could not be higher: without urgent intervention, the State risks losing its future to the grip of addiction. Nagaland’s survival hinges on its ability to wage this battle with courage, compassion and unwavering determination.
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