Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) as part of National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) IV phase conducted a series of district level meeting on Opiod Substitution Therapy (OST) in Mon, Tuensang, Longleng and Zunheboto districts.

The meeting held at their respective district hospitals from July 24 to 30 stressed mainly on overview of OST and its government schemes, harm reduction and OST in Nagaland’s context.

Dr. Rose, state programme officer, NSACS, and Ketho were the resource persons who shared about twin epidemic of drug addiction in relationship with HIV.

According to Dr. Rose, OST was the mode of substituting the use of an illicit drug with a legal drug and was a medically supervised treatment for Injecting Drug Users (IDUs). Enlightening the stakeholders, he deliberated on the pharmacokinetics of OST drug i.e buprenorphine, and operational issues of the programme.

Ketho shared how OST programme has proved to be a success for IDUs and said because of OST, many drug users have stabilized on a normal life and were able to attain total abstinence after attending the OST programme.

The meeting was well received by participants, which included representatives from administration, police, NGOs, DAPCUs, hospital staff, and bodies of youth, panchayat, church, mothers’ association.

It may be mentioned that OST programme works at preventing HIV, HBV, HCV, minimizes the risk of overdose, increase productivity  and is incorporated as part of a harm reduction service for the IDUs through NACO and initiated by state government/NSACS through TI NGO partners.

Though the programme started only in 2006 in the Nagaland chapter, it has proved to be beneficial for the drug using community and therefore the idea to upscale it in the district hospitals was felt due to its demand.

OST at district hospital of Mokokchung and Kiphire are already operating and after the training of staff, OST centre would also be launched in four districts.

Dr. Rose sought cooperation of all various stakeholders and TI NGOs towards OST programme, and also requested drug users to avail OST to experience a better quality of life.