Drugs spreading in interior Goa a source of worry, say doctors

Dharmesh (name changed) drives past the village tinto as dawn is set to kiss another day. Unlike many, he has had his nose bone surgically removed due to his addiction to cocaine.

The plight of Dharmesh, living in the northern coastal belt, is a worry to psychiatrists but what is worse is the number of cannabis addiction cases being reported in areas as far off from the coast as Sanquelim, Valpoi and at the foot of the Western Ghats and surrounding areas.

“The number of patients being treated for cannabis addiction has worryingly increased with the drug having reached places like Dharbandora, Sankhali and the interiors,” warns Dr Rajesh Dhume, head of the Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF) at the North Goa District Hospital.

The movement of drugs from the coastal belt to the interiors, according to Dhume, started during the pandemic. “During those days, with fewer police checks, it might have been easier for peddlers to move around,” reasons Dhume as he explains the surge in patients consuming cannabis right up to the foothills of the Western Ghats.

Cannabis has been seized in substantial quantity by the Anti Narcotic Cell (ANC) of Goa Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) operating from Goa in the last months.

“We have caught peddlers with other drugs but cannabis is the main drug being seized these days. What we seize depends on information sourced and our raids are not oriented to a specific drug,” stated a source in the ANC on condition of anonymity.

“Politicians want to fool themselves in believing that locals are not addicted to drugs. This is wrong because most of our patients addicted to hard drugs are from the coastal belt,” warns Dhume.

“There are fewer cases of heroin addiction but we have a number of cases of outsiders reporting at the centre during the weekends. These people come for parties or to visit casinos. Goa is sold as a place of fun and drugs are part of that fun being sold,” the doctor alludes.

There is a link to parties and drugs. Dr Noel Henriques of St Anthony Hospital in Vagator says, “It is definitely worrying that many locals are getting addicted to synthetic drugs these days. This is a new trend though I must say, the number of cases at our hospital have decreased after Covid.”

He adds, “Quite often we have had to refer cases of overdose of synthetic drugs to the North Goa District hospital during weekends when parties are held around the place.”

Drug addiction has hit families too. “My son first started smoking and made me believe it was a natural herb found all over India. I realised he switched to something bad when money started missing until one day, I was warned by a friend that he had started selling drugs,” moans the mother whose son is an under trial in the State jail in Colvale.

“Drug addiction and the business of drugs would not have been a problem had there not been patronage from the police and those to whom they are responsible. This is a well-orchestrated game that sees society paying a heavy price,” says Dhume.

Vagator villagers also see the hand of the authorities in the drug business. “Dream Beach in Vagator belongs to the Department of Tourism and drug-fuelled parties were held there during the season by people who have been caught selling drugs before and yet it was allowed to happen without any permission,” says Sagar Sirsaikar from Vagator.

“Despite media reports that a lad from Kerala was killed during the New Year party there, and subsequently boys from other parts of India lost their lives after attending parties at Dream Beach, the authorities failed to take action,” adds Sirsaikar.

“Drugs are a serious problem that need urgent attention. We just cannot sweep it under the carpet,” concludes Dhume whose methadone programme at the ATF centre at North Goa District Hospital is providing solace to many hard drug addicts.