Drug Use Among Meghalaya Youth: A Growing Concern

A study reveals that drug use among Meghalaya's youth begins as early as age 10. Heroin is the most commonly used drug, and initiation often occurs due to curiosity, family issues, and peer pressure. The research highlights the need for outreach programs to prevent early drug initiation.

In Meghalaya, alarming trends in drug use among youth are emerging, with initiation starting as early as age 10. This finding is in stark contrast to neighboring Manipur and Nagaland, where the average initiation age is 22, according to a new study published in the Indian Journal of Public Health.

The study, a collaboration between the Indian Institute of Public Health, Shillong, and the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society, surveyed 128 individuals receiving opioid substitution therapy and 17 service providers. It discovered that 91% of drug users were male and mostly employed in the unorganized sector, with over half possessing less than a decade of formal education.

Heroin was identified as the most injected drug, with access being described as easily obtainable in marketplaces and via mobile transactions. Researchers emphasize the urgent need for outreach programs in educational and community settings to curb the trend of early drug initiation and address the collapse of traditional support systems.

(With inputs from agencies.)