Dimapur, June 25 (MExN): Noting the negative impact of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, the need to have better coordination of various, stakeholders, partners and implementers in the state is felt by the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS). The push is needed not only to check illegal trafficking of drugs but also the spread of HIV/AIDS, the NSACS said in a message today in the backdrop of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26.
A one-day state-level consultation workshop with key departments is being organized on June 26 at Hotel Japfü in Kohima, from 10:00 am onwards. The workshop will be attended by representatives from the Narcotics branch, Social Welfare, Positive networks, Youth Resources, NBCC, Crime and Excise departments and civil bodies and government departments. The various dimensions of drug trafficking in Nagaland, cross-border trafficking, youth and drugs- preventive strategies as well as issues and concerns of drug users are to be examined.
On December 7 1987, the UN General Assembly decided to observe June 26 June as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) leads the international campaign aimed at raising awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society and especially to young people. Launched in 2007, the Campaign has been running for three years with the slogan: “Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs.” Under this year’s slogan, “Illicit Drug Trafficking” is being concentrated in order to raise awareness among decisions-makers and among the civil organizations. “Drugs control the body and mind of individual consumers, the drug crop and drug cartels control farmers, trafficking and crime control communities,” the NSACS stated in a message today.
The NGO stated that drug use has been linked with HIV/AIDS since the onset of the epidemic in the state. Early in the epidemic, the role of injecting drug use was recognized. NSACS & Project Orchid are implementing Targeted Interventions Projects for Injecting Drug Users (IDU) spread across the state and giving Harm-Reduction services to some 20,976 IDUs through NGOs, the NSACS informed.
According to the NGO, Targeted Intervention projects with Injecting Drug Users (IDU) have contributed to reducing the number of cases associated with injecting drug use. “However, as the epidemic evolved, it has become apparent that focusing solely on injecting drug use significantly underestimates the impact of drug use on the transmission of HIV/AIDS,” it stated. Drug and alcohol intoxication is associated with High- Risk sexual behavior including having unprotected sex or sex with a high- risk partner, which increases the risk of contracting and or transmitting HIV. Nagaland currently, has 7,826 people living with HIV (April 2009).
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