Drug Addiction In Sikkim

Drug Addiction in Sikkim: A Sociological Study

Dr. P.K.Mishra

Principal

D.S.College, Gangtok

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Introduction:

In contemporary society, the full-fledged impact of modernization and globalization, which has led to free movement of people, goods and money across the countries of the world, can be witnessed. This has also opened the economic opportunities among the individuals and the communities in the society, which has become the new of life. Society has changed over the years and activities of the people have undergone changes. Even the substances used for inebriation have changed corresponding with the dynamics of society. Traditionally used drugs, marijuana and cannabis, have been replaced by modern synthetic drugs.

Nagaland and Manipur are the two states in Manipur are the two states in North-East India, which has the highest prevalence of Intravenous Drugs (IDUs). Even cultivation of opium is done in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, and supplied to other parts of India. These are the easy routes of drug trafficking across the common borders of Myanmar and the three North-eastern States of India (Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland). There is illicit cultivation of opium and cannabis, the heroin and the amphetamines, and the pharmaceuticals are used as illicit drugs and trafficked in the North-east India. (Drug used in Northeastern States,

Prior to it, the state was recognized as Protectorate state of India. Sikkim has diverse cultural heritage emerging from the three ethnic groups who settled in this region in the pre-historic period. These ethnic groups are Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese. The Lepchas are considered to be from the hills of Assam, Bhutias from Tibet and Nepalese from Nepal; however, they build a harmonious social system in the hills.(The Sikkim saga) After the British invasion, Sikkim has played a significant role in the international trade and commerce among the nations across the state. Geographically, it is strategically located for international relations cutting across India, Tibet, China, Nepal and Bhutan. This feature of the state has attached the British as well as other communities in the region, which led to many social and structural changes in the region. There has been a change of structural change in Sikkim, from being an independent kingdom it became a protectorate state of India, later it became an integral part of the Union of India. The docile tribes and the people living in the state of Sikkim were gradually exposed to the outside world and development in socio-economic