Wangpang Konyak, Senior Naga leader and Advisor for the Nagaland Social Welfare Department, on 26 June called on churches, educational institutions, civil society organisations, and community groups to take a proactive, coordinated role in tackling the growing substance abuse crisis in the state. Speaking on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Konyak stressed that safeguarding the younger generation demands collective action that goes well beyond government intervention alone.

Churches as Institutional Pillars Against Addiction

Addressing the programme in Kohima, Konyak underscored that faith-based organisations — particularly the Church — wield immense social influence in Nagaland and are uniquely positioned to drive transformative change. He urged churches to move beyond the pulpit and establish structured, compassionate interventions: setting up church-led counselling units, helping de-stigmatise addiction and mental health struggles, and running youth-centric mentorship programmes.

He also appealed to Mothers' Associations, youth organisations, and student unions to work in concert to shield young people from negative influences. Konyak called for the creation of drug-free localities and encouraged positive peer engagement through sports, music, cultural activities, and vocational skill development.

A Mutating Threat: Synthetic Drugs and Digital Trafficking

'The old, predictable threats of traditional narcotics have mutated. We face a complex frontier of highly addictive synthetic drugs and sophisticated, technology-driven trafficking cartels that infiltrate our towns and villages right through the smartphones in our children's hands,' Konyak said. He described drug abuse as 'not just an individual failure' but 'a systemic threat to public health, economic productivity, and regional security.'

This framing is significant: Nagaland's geography — bordering Myanmar, a major source of synthetic drugs — makes the state particularly vulnerable to cross-border trafficking networks that have increasingly turned to digital platforms for distribution.

Centre's Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and State Alignment

Konyak highlighted that the Central government's flagship Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) has recognised that a purely punitive, law-and-order approach is insufficient. Under the vision of a Viksit Bharat, the focus has shifted towards demand reduction, grassroots counselling, data-driven mapping of vulnerable hotspots, and dignified rehabilitation. In alignment with this, the Nagaland government conducts awareness campaigns statewide through District Level NMBA Committees headed by Deputy Commissioners. The state has also committed to strengthening enforcement of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, tightening border monitoring, and expanding the number of de-addiction centres.

DGP Rupin Sharma Flags Rehabilitation Gaps

Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma, speaking at a separate programme on the same occasion, expressed concern over the rising incidence of drug peddling and substance abuse, noting that easy availability continues to pose a serious challenge, particularly among the youth. Sharma pointed out that many people conflate psychological or medical counselling with religious counselling — a distinction he called critical. 'While religion provides moral and ethical guidance,' the senior IPS officer noted, 'addiction requires professional treatment and medical intervention.' He flagged that the state's rehabilitation infrastructure remains inadequate.

Sharma urged citizens to actively cooperate with law enforcement by reporting drug abuse and trafficking, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential. He also emphasised that drugs are not a solution to challenges such as depression, unemployment, or financial hardship, but instead worsen such conditions and harm individuals, families, and communities.

State-Wide Campaigns Mark Anti-Drug Day

A series of anti-drug campaigns, awareness programmes, and community events were organised across Nagaland on Friday to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The coordinated outreach reflects a broader push to embed anti-drug messaging at the grassroots level, with schools, community halls, and local bodies all participating. With both government officials and civil society leaders aligning on the urgency of the issue, the coming months will test whether these calls translate into sustained institutional action.