Warning that drug addiction often begins during adolescence and causes lasting changes to the brain, senior neurologist and narcotics specialist Dr. Swapan Gupta on Tuesday called for a shift in India’s approach to de-addiction from suppression to transformation.
Delivering the keynote address virtually during the World No Drug Day observance in Mokokchung, Dr Gupta said drug abuse remains a serious concern in the Northeast and cited a March 2020 study which recorded some of the country’s highest prevalence of drug abuse in the region, with Manipur ranking highest, followed by Mizoram and Nagaland.
He said addiction commonly begins between the ages of 15 and 19 years, adding that studies indicate 44% to 71% of substance dependence starts during this period, underscoring the need for early intervention.
Describing addiction as a public health issue rather than merely a behavioural problem, Gupta said substance abuse places a heavy physical, mental, social and economic burden on individuals and families.
He said prolonged drug abuse can lead to hepatitis, lung damage and brain damage, while also contributing to depression, anxiety, psychosis and anti-social behaviour.
Explaining why addiction becomes increasingly difficult to overcome, Gupta said drugs trigger an abnormal surge of dopamine—a brain chemical associated with pleasure and reward. While the initial experience creates a feeling of euphoria, repeated drug use gradually rewires the brain’s reward system.
Over time, he said, the brain becomes less responsive to dopamine as its receptors are repeatedly overstimulated. As a result, users require progressively larger doses of the substance to experience the same effect, a phenomenon known as tolerance.
Gupta said prolonged drug use also affects the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for judgment, decision-making, self-control and emotional regulation. As these functions weaken, the ability to resist cravings diminishes.
“Initially, there is a balance between ‘yes’ and ‘no’,” he said. “But as the prefrontal cortex is damaged, emotional impulses become stronger while rational thinking declines, leaving the individual compelled to consume the substance.”
He said this shift explains why addiction progresses from voluntary use to dependence, making it a chronic brain disorder rather than simply a matter of willpower.
Gupta stressed that the principle of de-addiction is “transformation, not suppression.” He said recovery involves replacing destructive sources of pleasure with healthier alternatives through awareness, positive affirmation and meditation. Such practices, he said, help strengthen new neural pathways over time, while strong family and community support remain essential for sustained recovery.
Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung Ajit Kumar Verma echoed the need for a community-based response, saying suppression alone cannot solve the drug problem and that transformation cannot be achieved by individuals in isolation.
He called for families, educational institutions, community organisations and government agencies to work together in supporting those affected by substance abuse.
The remarks came during the World No Drug Day programme organised by the Rajyoga Education Research Foundation through its Medical Wing, Youth Wing and Education Wing, along with the Brahma Kumaris, in collaboration with 12 Assam Rifles, under the theme “Drug Abuse Prevention & Value-Based Living.”
The observance concluded with an awareness rally from the Assam Rifles Ground to Police Point near Mokokchung Town Ao Baptist Church.