A panel discussion on ‘Sunflower drug and its effect on young people today’ was organised by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Youth department here at NBCC Platinum hall, Kohima today.
The panel discussion deliberated at length on the factors of high usage of Sunflower drug in Nagaland, demand reduction, supply reduction, harm reduction, preventive measures, role of the church and how the church can intervene in this matter.
The panel also discussed how churches in Nagaland can institute a mental health ministry with professional counsellors so as to address the matter and create more awareness.
Dr Viketoulie Pienyu, Senior Medical Officer of State Mental Health Institute Kohima stated that the usage of Sunflower drug in Nagaland has become a serious issue which can define the future of this generation.
A lot of young people are getting into Sunflower and other forms of drugs including alcohol and this is a serious matter which the society, the government and the church need to look into seriously, he said.
Dr Viketoulie Pienyu said society, the government and the church need to look seriously at substance abuse.
Observing that 20 to 25 percent of all mental cases in Nagaland are related directly or indirectly with substance abuse, he said the high usage of substance abuse can affect social stability, the economy and even political stability.
On the factors contributing toward the high usage of Sunflower drug, Pienyu said social acceptance is so prevalent that society tends to accept almost everything that is going on. He also attributed parental negligence as a factor: “bad parenting is also another factor why many people are going into drugs. Too much of easy pocket money is also contributing, when you have loose pocket money you intend to indulge in all these undesirable activities”.
Pienyu also voiced out the need for recreational facilities for young people: “We need to have more recreational facilities in every nook and corner so that they have less time for all these vices.”
The church is finally beginning to wake up on this issue, the medical officer said and suggested that the church should have a special need ministry where the particular needs of society such as issues of family, mental health and drug abuse problems can be addressed.
Rev Z Keyho, NBCC General Secretary, said Sunflower drug has caught people unaware – a complacency was present among people as the drug came in with another name. He added that people will now be better prepared with realization and should try to address the issue when we are in this situation.
On the role of the church, Keyho said harm reduction or supply reduction are beyond the parameters of the church. However, what the church can do is be aggressive on the preventive measures, the NBCC General Secretary stated.
The speaker for the discussion was Dr Viketoulie Pienyu, Senior Medical Officer State Mental Health Institute, Kohima with Toshi Sanglir, K Nifato Chishi and Wangchah Konyak as the panellists.
20 associations under NBCC attended the discussion.
