Addiction Research & Therapy

Background: Th e traditional knowledge and belief about the sanctity and medicinal properties of opium has been continued in many parts of India especially among tribal communities. Traditional usage of opium has been recorded among the tribal community of Northeast India especially in Arunachal Pradesh. Th e study investigates the possible social interaction of local tribal community with others living together in the same village for livelihood and its infl uence on increasing opium usage among the non-traditional users.

Methodology: Data collected on opium use in a study conducted in tribal dominated area of Arunachal Pradesh has been used to understand the impact of social interaction on increasing opium use. Of the sample of 65 villages and 4247 respondents (age 15 years & above) selected randomly, opium users were recorded only in 39 villages (2543 respondents). Of which 7 villages

has mixed population of tribes (local) and non-tribes (others); 31 villages has population of only tribes; and one village has

only non-tribal population.

Results: Overall, prevalence of opium users among the respondents of 39 villages was 9.3%, but the prevalence in mixed type of villages was 14% (14.4% among local tribes and 12.0% among others) whereas it was comparatively low among the respondents of sample of villages mainly recorded as tribal villages (8.3%) and non-tribal villages (1.4%). Th e high prevalence of opium use among the tribes was mainly due to traditional belief and practices which has been discussed. However, the increasing opium

use among the non-tribal community was mainly due to close social interaction with neighbouring community as they were living together in the same village.

Conclusion: Traditional use of opium among the tribes was the main cause of increasing opium usage among the neighbouring (non-tribal) community especially due to close social interaction. Th e fi ndings may be useful for institution of epidemiological intervention to reduce opium use