Nagaland has 9499 persons under Opioid Substitution Therapy

October 1, 2024 2 Views No Comment

Kohima, Oct 1 (MExN): A state level consultation workshop with stakeholders on Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) was held in Hotel Japfu, Kohima on September 28 last. It was organised by Nagaland Users’ Network (NUN) and NNagaDAO and supported by NSACS, PATH, CDC, PERFAR & CAD Foundation.

Health and Family Welfare Department, Joint Director (Prevention), Dr Bernice D Thapru delivering the keynote address said that directly funded by the central government, OST is being implemented across Nagaland and many young opioid drug users are availing the service. Stressing on the importance of having continuous sensitisation and disseminating right information and benefits of OST to the people, she cautioned about misinformation on OST services. Currently, OST service in the state is available only for injecting drug users, she said.

Nagaland has 9499 persons under OST in the 64 OST centers, said Technical Advisor of NUN, Renbonthung.

Drug use has become a big issue among young people in the state, he said and stressed on the need for better awareness among the opioid users to join OST in the state.

Secretary of NNagaDAO, Ketho Angami said OST was launched in 2006 to check the prevailing issue of HIV among Injecting drug users.
It started in the NGO set up with 4 sites in 3 districts – Kohima, Dimapur and Phek, he said.

The OST has decreased injecting episodes and also opioid overdose cases, he said.

Medical Officer OST Centre, NHAK Dr Sungtimen Jamir said OST is a medically supervised treatment that involves replacing illicit opioids, like heroin, with safer, long-acting medications such as buprenorphine to manage opioid dependency.

It aims to reduce harm, stabilize patients, and help them focus on recovery and social rehabilitation, he said.

Kezhosano Kikhi Deputy Legal Aid Defense Counsel NSLSA spoke on ‘substance abuse and the law’.