The term ‘Substance  Abuse’;  the over-use of alcohol, drugs  chemicals to the detriment of the person’s health and well being. It is a common problem of our society specially for our state, Manipur. It is an increasing problem both for the affluent and non-affluent people or society as it carries a great social and economic cost through its impacts on crime and health.’  ,
For the past 50 (Fifty) years, the Western World tried to treat the addicts or people who involved in substance abuse as criminals and punish them only to see increase of its abuse rather than curbing the same.

I. Definition of addiction:
The Word ‘Addiction’ can be termed as ‘Over-indulgence’, or “Obsessed Behaviour”, a habit excessively adhered to or hold on to a particular behaviour. In other words, it is a habit which has taken full control of an individual and nearly impossible to come out from it by one’s own effort.

According to neuro scientists, addiction of such substances is seen more and more as an “Organic Disorder of Brain Function”. If this is true, then corrective measures must be taken up for the disorder by the people or organizations involved to help out the situation.

II.  A historical perspective:
Looking back to the history of opium which is known to be the mother of all dreaded drugs, we find that THOMAS DE QUINCEY’S famous Autobiographical Confessions of an Opium Eater (1821) was the first literary account of the powerful addiction that opium can cause. Prior to this, the literary movement of Europe called ROMANTIC REVIVAL extensively depended upon opium to free the users to the FLIGHTS OF FANTASY & IMAGINATION. The literary figures included Schlegal, Madame de Stael & Puskin in continental Europe, and Coleridge, Wordsworth, Scott, Shelley Keats and Byron in Britain. It was not until the later half of the nineteenth Century that restrictions were placed on the use of opium in Britain. Even as late as 1895, the Royal Commission appointed to report on the use of opium in India concluded that the drug had no harmful effect on the local population. The consequences of such a faulty report or finding had been damage of lives of the innocent public beyond measure.

III. A Common Disease:
Unfortunately, the general public are yet to make themselves aware of and be sensitized that SUBSTANCE ABUSE is a COMMON PROBLEM because it is a COMMON DISEASE Socially speaking, it can be termed as GENOCIDE BECAUSE IT destroys health and weakens the will power to do the good one should be doing. Moreover, it blurs thoughts as it confuses conscience. Economically, it unnecessarily wastes away both private (Individual) and public (State) finance by the addicted generations(s).
Politically, it can be termed as an ARCH ENEMY, very subtly invading the state to wipe out its populance both from within and without. It is disheartening to see that our government seemed to have been fighting a losing battle!
Spiritually (Religiously) speaking, it is a symptom of the most dreaded, incurable disease called SIN (Satan Indwelled Nature) – an inherent nature of human being which inclined on Arrogance, Greed, Deceit and Wickedness. It is vital to note that without removing these spiritual symtoms, all the so-called deliverance of the addicts through other means do not last long; there is high chance of relapse time and again. Therefore, spiritual problem is considered as the root cause of the pandemic (Common, Global Disease).

Iv. Overcoming the problem:
Since substance abuse is a common problem, a common disease-a genocide every member of the society must rise up against this enemy Of humanity. I would like to suggest the following brief strategy to face the challenge which threatens our existence. This strategy can be worked out through 2 (Two) agencies.

1 . The Government and
2. Civil Societies & NGOs (Non-Qovernment Organization) including Religious Institutions.

1. The Government must have a sincere political will to help out in making their society clean from the abuse or addictions by doing every possible action against the smugglers, peddlers or vendors of the substance. All the defense staff (whether Police or Army) and Civil Officers & staff who themselves become users need to be excluded from the effort but be placed in some duties suitable for them it suspension or termination of their services is not in question. Unless the Government formed by the people is not clean, it is very difficult to tackle the issue.

2. The civil Societies and NGOs including Religious Institutions need to do much more than the present efforts. They need 3 (Three) pronged approach:

a. Commit to the Higher Power or the power of the Almighty God by praying always and demonstrate the true spirit to attain the objective by “WALKING THE TALK”.

b. Join hands with the Government in the effort.

c. Join hands with the public in the same effort.

Many thanks go to some organizations like AMADA, CADA etc. (to cite a few) for demonstrating this approach with the combative spirit against the menace. Such a spirit need to be encouraged by extending moral, prayer and even financial supports. It is important for-each one of-us to realize and act that our common enemies can be won over only by common effort.

May Love, Peace, Prosperity and Progress reign in Manipur forever!

(Courtesy: Hakshel)

Source: By Hueiyen News Service