Kohima, June 24: Neitho became a junkie within a year of trying to satiate his “curiosity” and Sedevituo became addicted to the “high” of drugs as a high school junior in Kohima. Fortunately, both are out of that dark phase of their lives and have been inspired to write their stories as part of a novel anti-drugs campaign.
Initiated by Kripa Foundation, which helped the two youths and many others kick the habit, the new campaign highlights the importance of mental detoxification along with physical rehabilitation. The compilation of personal stories will be released on Saturday, which is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The theme for this year is “Drugs: Treatment Works”.
An official of the Kripa Foundation described the “autobiographies” of former addicts as “inspiring tales of human folly and the fierce struggle to cope with life without the habit”.
For Neitho, putting his thoughts on paper was a cathartic experience. “I lied, stole from my family, friends and conned everyone and anyone that I could,” he wrote.
It was in jail — the youth had been arrested several times — that he met a Kripa Outreach worker and decided to enrol for the organisation’s de-addiction programme. He may not take a better decision for the rest of his life. “Today, I am alive, enjoying life without drugs for the last three years,” Neitho wrote, urging addicts to immediately opt for treatment.
Nagaland has hundreds of drug addicts, but awareness about the long-term effects of addiction is abysmal. Ranked sixth in the country in terms of HIV/AIDS incidence, a bigger problem for the state is the spread of infection through intravenous drug use.
Abou, who works at the Kripa Foundation office here, said stories of former addicts could make a major difference to the campaign. The NGO is now planning to compile personal stories of family members of recovering addicts.
Last year, Narcotics Anonymous organised a programme during which reformed addicts were encouraged to share their experiences with others.