‘First-time drug users should be sent for de-addiction, not jail’
Amidst the intense ongoing crackdown on drugs by the state government, which includes recent inspections of outpatient opioid assisted treatment (OOAT) centres at Kapurthala by the administration, The Tribune corrspondent Aparna Banerji talks to Dr Sandeep Bhola, one of the state’s foremost auhtorities on de-addiction and a long-term advocate of decriminalisation of drug users, about the challenges and way ahead amidst the drug crisis.
Amidst the state government’s recent crusade against drugs, is there a change in the pattern of drug users and ailments being reported among them in the past few days?
The present crusade against drugs is not a new one, it’s been going on. The recent intense crackdown has led people to opt for treatment. More and more people who have been using opioids, especially heroin, are coming in for treatment. Many of these are those who had never previously sought help. Now, besides the de-addiction services, we are screening them for other ailments like HIV, Hepatitis, TB, STDs etc. So obviously these figures will also go high.
In past few years, have the drug users being reported at the de-addiction centre increased?
Due to awareness activities, more and more drug users have been coming in for treatment and the figure’s rising.
Do the recent arrest and actions against drug smugglers/peddlers by the law enforcement agencies affect or impact the number of drug users being reported at the de-addiction centre?
Whenever there’s a crackdown on the supply of drugs, larger number of people opt for treatment. Since the intensity of the crackdown is rising, we are expecting more people to report for treatment.
What kind of narcotics are most commonly available and being used these days by drug users?
Mostly heroin, though the quality varies. A few cases of charas, ganja, Metamphetamines (ice) do come in, but a few.
Do concerns over synthetic chitta and the health problems posed by it still reign heavy?
Using any drug is harmful, whether causing physical harm like HIV, hepatitis, overdose etc, psychological harm like depression, shame, suicides etc and there can be familial, social, financial and legal harms etc. The risk of these harms will keep rising with every use.
It is a general belief that due to the prevalence of hybrid cocktails and changing narcotic use, the consumption, injection or inhalation of cheap drug concoctions have caused an increase in kidney disease, Hepatitis C, lung ailments and a general increase in drug overdose deaths too. Do you share this view? What do you observe regarding this?
Yes, that’s true. Whenever there are cocktail drugs in the market, these are more harmful and more difficult to treat. Since there are many unknown chemicals mixed in cocktails, these are more harmful and the risk of overdose deaths is more. This happens more often, when the supply chain is choked.
Drug overdose cases are commonly seen among those who either drop out of treatment or fail to seek medical help in time. It is often seen these are under-reported in formal medical establishments due to the lack of awareness. How do you see this scenario? How can this problem be solved?
It’s true, whenever a person quits drugs, his/her threshold to the tolerance to drugs comes down and when that person again uses the same quantity of drug, it becomes an overdose for him/her. Buprenorphine takes care of withdrawals, craving etc, but also prevents opioid overdose. People, out of shame and stigma, don’t report it. The state government has issued directions to all health institutions to keep injection Naloxone, an antidote to drug overdose and a life saving drug. Timely intervention can prevent opioid overdose deaths.
Amidst a drug problem clearly getting more out of hand with time, what’s the status of the ‘medical’ war against drugs? What are the solutions?
Drug problem hasn’t gone out of hands. The state government is very proactively taking control of the situation. In my opinion, the solution is to strengthen our existing de-addiction services, creating more awareness, involvement of civil society and coordination among various departments like police, health, skill development, employment generation, education, rural development etc.
As an advocate for de-criminalising drug use, do you think the law-enforcement’s war against drugs will aid the health department’s fight against drugs?
I am in no position to comment on this. But am of the opinion that persons caught with smaller quantities and caught for first time, must be sent for de-addiction treatment rather than prisons. Their assessments, holistic treatment, regular follow-ups, involvement of families as well as civil society will help a lot.
