Women drug users fear being stigmatized
By Our Reporter
Shillong: Meghalaya is no exception when it comes to the usage of drugs by women but the same is difficult to identify since female drug users are always in hiding due to fear of being stigmatized.
“Women using drugs are likely to be more stigmatized than male counterparts because their activities are regarded by society as ‘double deviance’- deviance from both accepted societal code of behaviors. That is why they are hidden,” Manbha Foundation president Dr Rica Lamar informed on Saturday.
Presenting a detail report on drug abuse in the State with special reference to women at a one-day State-level convention of Faith Based Organisation of Meghalaya on HIV/AIDS on Saturday, Dr Lamar said for women, risk is very high because apart from getting infected with the virus, they sometimes get involved in the flesh trade in exchange for drugs.
“Women get into drugs due to various reasons like depression, anxiety, violence besides others and those involved are mostly students, sex workers, or partners of an injecting drug user,” Dr Lamar said.
Besides getting infected with this dreaded disease, these female injecting drug users face many legal problems and violence from male members of the family or spouse, she said, while adding that women are quite vulnerable to violence.
Meanwhile, pointing out the statistic of drug users in the State, Dr Lamar said Jaintia Hills has the highest number of drug users which is recorded to be 5398 followed by East Khasi Hills with 5113, Ri Bhoi with 2397, West Khasi Hills with 1525, East Garo Hills with 1500, West Garo Hills with 1100 and South Garo Hills with 800.
“Out of the total number of 17,833 recorded drug users in the State, 30 per cent are injecting drug users,” Dr Lamar informed, adding that injecting drugs is one of the most common ways of getting infected with HIV/AIDS as the same injecting equipments like syringes are being used by more than one drugs users having symbolic connotations like love, sharing, friendship or non-availability of fresh syringes or needles.
“The lack of knowledge of the risk involved is perhaps the main reason behind the spread of this disease,” Dr Lamar said adding that awareness campaigns on the same should be conducted in every nook and corner of the State to make the people aware of HIV/AIDS and its dire consequences.
Meanwhile, addressing the gathering during the evening session, Independent legislator Manas Chaudhuri informed that Meghalaya comparatively had less number of AIDS and HIV positive cases as compared to other states in the country.
Stating that Manipur has the highest number of AIDS and HIV positive cases in India, Chaudhuri said that statistics showed the AIDS and HIV cases in Meghalaya was quite high last year but comparatively lower than most states in the country.
While appreciating the health workers of the State, and the crucial role played by the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society to contain the dreaded disease, the legislator urged the gathering to restrain from ‘pleasures’ that would affect their health.
Chaudhuri also made a special mention of the things that would improve one’s health.
“One should be very careful not to experiment with things which are likely to burn their
fingers, but strictly adhere to ethical practices and keep the promises of a married life without falling prey to momentary temptation,” Chaudhuri stated.