Changlang, Lohit and Tirap districts of East Arunachal Pradesh is sure to provide a plethora of travel opportunities for both the conservatives and the liberals. The districts here are synonymous with mouth watering delicacies and a wide variety of culture and tradition. These magnificent districts have nourished tribal life of the Tai Khamptis, Singphos, Mishmis, Noctes, Wanchos, Tangsas since time immemorial and fascinated the people from other places. But in the recent past these districts are mostly in the news for the wrong reasons such as the modern day menace of Opium also called Kaani.

For reasons unknown the beautiful people who inhabit this wonderful land have fallen prey to the dreaded killer smoke – OPIUM, popularly known by the tribal as Kaani. Raw opium is dark brown in colour and is a soft gummy mass having a strong characteristic odor and bitter taste. Opium which has been rightly tagged as the ‘king of narcotics’ as perhaps no other narcotic enjoys such popularity as opium has become a treat to be offered to guests and other important individuals. Looked at through the Arunachal prism, opium is a singularly bad thing.

Introduced to the north east by the British to appease the hostile tribes, the opium addiction — locally known as kaani — has now spread over the entire region. With the passage of time opium positioned itself in the economy and culture of these magnificent tribes. Now with time, the opium consumers have increased and so have the producers. Opium trade has reached hitherto unknown dimensions with the entry of brokers and peddlers. Most of the youth and even many government employees have smoked away their health and wealth. Today the situation has worsened with students of schools and colleges falling into the deadly trap and becoming addicts.

Poppy plants are cultivated in small fields in the bright sunny plains and valleys. It is a beautiful rare sight when the flowers are in full bloom over the blue lit mountains; the flower is very beautiful and ranges in colour from white to purple with shades of red and orange being the most common. However, the beauty of this plant belies its danger as it can rob you of your health and wealth. This illicit cultivation of opium which is widespread also portends ill for the people at the receiving end.  A person addicted to opium will go to any lengths to procure it. He will commit theft, robbery or murder to acquire money to buy opium or related drugs.

Effects and Addictive Nature

Opium comes from the poppy plant known botanically as Papaver somniferum. This plant is a dicotyledon (its seeds contain two seed leaves), belonging to the family Papaveraceae. This family is actually a cousin of the family Cruciferae to which the familiar cabbage belongs. The word papaver is a Greek word meaning ‘poppy’. Somniferum is a Latin word meaning ‘I bring sleep’. Since opium induces sleep, its name is quite apt.

Opium and its various constituents exert effects upon the body ranging from analgesia, or insensitivity to pain, narcosis, or depressed physiological activity leading to stupor. Opium users describe experiencing a feeling of calm and wellbeing. Opium addicts in otherwise good physical and mental health whose drug needs are met are thought to experience no debilitating physiological effects from their addiction, although there is some evidence that the immune function is compromised. However, their preoccupation with the drug and its acquisition can lead to malnutrition and general poor self-care and an increased risk of disease.

On the Individual

As the sun sets over the blue hills, people of all ages especially those residing in the remotest villages of these districts assemble with their dear and near ones at their home to prepare for an opium session with friends at their house or in their friend’s home. Assicts say that it gives rise to a feeling of wellbeing. In small doses, say of about 50 mg, it gives rise to pleasant sensations; however, in large doses it induces sleep. Still larger doses, say about 2 gm, are liable to kill a person. The innocent tribal people along with friends unaware of the ill effect of this substance spend long hours of the evenings in an ecstatic state drawing from their favorite opium.

Most of the innocent tribal villagers are aware that opium has an adverse effect on health. They also understand that they can get addicted to it but are ignorant of the socio-cultural and economic impact of opium consumption. Mostly they equate opium with tobacco. Almost most of the villagers were of the opinion that imported liquors are more harmful than opium. The debate on this issue has been so hilarious that an ecstatic old tribal man from this region who consumes opium believes that when one consumes opium there is no quarrel between husband and wife. But after consuming liquor people fight with their family members and neighbors. Many women supporting the motion also feel the same. They find peace when their husband consumes opium instead of liquor. There were also instances in which women fed their drunkard husbands opium to save themselves from daily brawls. When the addicted tribal villagers are told of the adverse effects of opium they opined that imported liquor consumption is more adverse than consuming opium. People die consuming imported liquor but there has been no instance of people dying after consuming opium, said a fanatical tribal man.

Opium had become a taboo subject and is not discussed. All the effected societies of beautiful landlocked East Arunachal have to accept that opium is a menace which must not be entertained in a modern society. No modern society can afford to justify opium consumption, trade or its farming. Opium is a menace which should have no place in any society, there can be no two opinions about this.
 
The narcotics department from the centre had tried in the past to destroy the poppy fields but the action had adverse effects. Destruction will force the consumers to import opium which would have far graver and more adverse effects on the society. The government and all the stake holders of the society need to work hand in hand and steer all the affected societies towards a future where there is no place for a substance like opium.

Many villagers of this region positively and enthusiastically are of the opinion that opium should be eradicated from all these suffering societies. Many tribal societies suffering from the dreaded smoke called opium were even ready to volunteer if the government comes up with policies and programs. There have been many instances where many addicted villagers were successful in quitting opium but had to consume it again on precarious health grounds. Many tribal villagers citing examples of others who gave up opium expressed their views that those people who had left consuming opium many years back face problems when they have to take pain relieving medicines when they get injured. It is only opium which can sooth their pain. There were many more people who took opium as a medicine but got addicted to it.

Many people suffering from the adverse effects of opium feel the same and know deep down that if there was no opium in this world, they would have lived a healthier life.

Chow Bilaseng Namchoom