Faith in action: How Nagaland churches are battling drug abuse

Kohima: With drug abuse on the rise in Nagaland, churches in the Christian-majority state are emerging as key players in rehabilitation, awareness, and outreach efforts. Even as law enforcement agencies intensify their crackdown on narcotics trafficking, faith-based institutions are tackling the growing addiction crisis through spiritual interventions, counselling, and community support, offering a lifeline to those struggling with substance abuse.

In 2024 alone, the Nagaland Police seized narcotics worth nearly Rs 119 crore, arresting 343 individuals in connection with 199 registered cases. Heroin worth over Rs 15 crore was confiscated in recent weeks, with most consignments originating from Manipur and destined for Assam, Punjab, Karnataka, and even Myanmar.

Experts have identified Nagaland as one of the ten states in India severely affected by drug abuse. They attributed the complex drug problem to the country’s, particularly the Northeast region’s, proximity to the world’s two largest illicit drug-producing zones—the ‘Golden Crescent’ in the west and the ‘Golden Triangle’ in the east. According to data, these two regions account for over 90% of global opium and heroin production. The ‘Golden Crescent’ includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, while the ‘Golden Triangle’ comprises Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos.

A 2021 survey by the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment revealed that Nagaland had 6.24 lakh substance users, including 1.11 lakh children and 26,000 women, highlighting the widespread impact of drug abuse in the state.

Nagaland Police have been reporting large-scale narcotics seizures and arrests as part of their “war on drugs” operations. In 2024, the state police apprehended a key drug kingpin operating in the North East. Despite intensified crackdowns, the drug menace continues to escalate across the state.

Faith in action

The Catholic Church was among the earliest organisations to respond to the issue of substance abuse in Nagaland. The Shalom Rehabilitation Centre in Chümoukedima, an initiative of the Diocese of Kohima, was established in 1993 to combat substance abuse and its impact on individuals, families, and society in Nagaland.

Rev. Fr. Dr. Joe Mariadhas, Director of the Shalom Rehabilitation Centre, informed EastMojo that the centre provides substance abuse prevention education to teachers, caregivers, and others seeking to understand and address the issue.

In collaboration with the Medical Mission Sisters (MMS), Shalom focuses on restoring lives affected by chemical dependency on alcohol and other substances. The mission of Shalom is to empower the addict and the family to free themselves from their addictive thinking and support them in their efforts to stay clean.

“The church is actively involved in this mission of restoring human dignity and integrating life with society through diverse interventions that can combat substance abuse,” he said. 

According to Fr Mariadhas, Shalom Rehabilitation Centre provides a range of services aimed at combating substance abuse, including detoxification, residential rehabilitation, family and group therapy, and training programs for teachers and counsellors on substance abuse prevention.

“The method we follow at Shalom is called ITCI (Integrated Theme Centered Intervention). This method comprises Physical, Psychological, Social and Spiritual aspects of recovery. The treatment and rehabilitation are spread around four months as it is a residential programme that fosters recovery and other aspects of addiction and its related matters. We believe in the power of transformation and the possibility of rebuilding lives through pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that spread around four months as a residential programme,” he informed.

The centre also conducts workshops and seminars in schools and colleges on substance abuse, AIDS, sex education, and youth counselling. Interestingly, the centre also offers a correspondence course on substance abuse and AIDS for students and interested individuals.

Shalom runs a drop-in centre and day-care counselling services, offering guidance and support. It also provides training on drug abuse prevention, internships for students studying related issues, and fieldwork opportunities for IGNOU students and other organisations.

“Shalom is exploring innovative ways of combating substance (alcohol & drugs) abuse. Detoxification and rehabilitation of the addicts is an important function of the centre. But preventive awareness campaigns among the students, youths and communities have been equally important and conducted throughout the year in all parts of the northeast,” the priest said.

He also informed that the Nagaland Catholic Youth Movement, in collaboration with the Northeast Regional Youth Commission, conducts various outreach programs to support individuals battling addiction.

Fr Mariadhas observed that policymakers need to understand the menace of substance abuse in diverse aspects. “It has escalated our youth to become vulnerable and weak, not able to be productive and useful, the purpose of life is lost, no motivation for a sober and clean life and many other things like controlling the supply and being strict with the laws can help to combat,” he said.

Speaking to EastMojo, Rev Zelhou Keyho, general secretary of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) recalled how the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) was actively involved in anti-drug campaigns between 2015 and 2018, working closely with the then Legislative Forum.

“We often assume that drug users are not church people. So, our approach was to seek them out and take the church to them. Many young people are suffering from drug abuse, and instead of viewing them as a rebellious group to be ignored, we wanted to reach out, show them love, and make them feel included,” Rev Keyho explained.

However, in recent years, the momentum has slowed. He admitted that while churches remain mission-minded, they lack structured ministry strategies to combat drug addiction. He expressed disappointment that 95% of the church’s resources are spent on infrastructure, while only 5% goes toward actual ministry.

“We often take our well-being as a priority and forget our responsibility to those in need. This cycle must be broken,” he said.

He emphasised the need for the churches to take a more proactive approach in reaching out to those struggling with addiction, acknowledging that once individuals become dependent on drugs, breaking free is incredibly difficult.

Referring to his recent case studies on alcohol consumers and drug users, Keyho said that Nagaland’s drug culture reveals that many drug users enter the cycle without fully considering the consequences—some experiment and become addicted, while others use drugs as a coping mechanism for stress, strained relationships, or personal struggles. In his findings, drug use is linked to a “hidden culture” that promotes it as a symbol of being “cool.”

Another factor contributing to rising substance abuse, he noted, includes the unavailability of alcohol, leading individuals to turn to drugs as an alternative.

Likewise, the Miqlat Ministry under the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC)’s women’s department, has been actively working to uplift women and girls at risk, including those struggling with substance abuse.

A source informed that the ministry’s mission goes beyond just preaching; it focuses on prevention through training programs and economic empowerment, recognising that financial struggles often push individuals into vulnerability.

The ministry also runs a shelter home that offers holistic restoration and rehabilitation, emphasising repatriation—helping individuals reconnect with their families and communities as part of their healing journey. The ministry extends its efforts beyond drug rehabilitation, addressing the needs of women and girls facing various forms of risk and exploitation.

Between faith and professional treatment

A significant debate in Nagaland also revolves around faith-based healing versus professional medical intervention. While many drug users and their families turn to prayer centres for relief, experts caution that addiction is not solely a spiritual problem.

“Not many religious leaders are not trained therapists. A person struggling with addiction needs professional counselling and long-term rehabilitation. While faith plays a crucial role, we should not rely solely on prayer to heal drug addiction,” an expert said.

The concern is that while prayer centres offer short-term control over addiction, many individuals relapse upon leaving due to the absence of structured withdrawal management. “Addiction is not a spiritual problem. Just like a person with a physical illness needs a doctor, drug users require necessary professional intervention,” a church leader added.

Redefining faith-based interventions

According to Rev Zelhou Keyho, Nagaland’s churches must adopt a more strategic approach to rehabilitation. With Nagaland being a Christian-majority state, he said that many assume faith alone will solve societal issues.

However, he observed that drug addiction remains as complex a challenge in Nagaland as in any secular society. Faith-based organizations, he said, must evolve, integrating professional rehabilitation techniques with spiritual guidance to make a lasting impact. “Our churches need to revamp the work that we do,” he added.

Keyho opined that the fight against drug abuse should not be left to the government as it requires a united effort from churches, professionals, NGOs and the community at large.

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