Meghalaya’s Alarming Drug Crisis: Kids Hooked as Young as 10

A chilling study published in the Indian Journal of Public Health (April-June 2025) reveals that children in Meghalaya are starting drug use as early as age 10, far younger than the average initiation age of 22 in neighboring Manipur and Nagaland. Conducted by the Indian Institute of Public Health, Shillong, and the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society, the research exposes a growing drug epidemic threatening the state’s youth.

The qualitative study surveyed 128 individuals enrolled in opioid substitution therapy (OST) across East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and East Jaintia Hills, alongside 17 service providers. It found the mean age of drug initiation to be 19, with over one-third of users starting as minors and a quarter while still in school. Over 91% of users are male, 80% work in the unorganized sector, and more than half have less than 10 years of schooling, highlighting socio-economic vulnerabilities.

Heroin, particularly potent variants dubbed “black tiger” and “double tiger,” emerged as the most commonly injected drug, with users spending Rs 500–2,500 daily. Access is alarmingly easy through local marketplaces and mobile transactions, with many resorting to borrowing or stealing to sustain their addiction after peer-sharing ends. Curiosity, family issues, peer pressure, and stress were cited as primary triggers, with users often progressing from pills or marijuana to heroin.

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The study links early drug use to the erosion of traditional community support systems, warning that it heightens long-term addiction risks. Meghalaya Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh announced plans to train over 100 teachers as counselors within 10 months to address this crisis at its roots, alongside initiatives like the Drug Reduction, Elimination & Action Mission (DREAM).

With an estimated 3 lakh drug users in the state—10% of the population—this escalating crisis demands urgent outreach in schools and communities to curb early initiation and restore protective social networks.

Also Read: Massive ₹76 Crore Drug Haul Seized in Manipur’s Jiribam