Issues and challenges among women who inject drugs and overdose in Manipur

Pages: 709-712
Archana Oinam (Department of Psychology, Noida International University Noida, Uttar Pradesh)
Heena Parveen (Department of Psychology, Faculty Jamia Millia Islamia University Delhi)

Overdose occurs when a drug user takes too much of the drug which a body cannot tolerate and the body reacts negatively. If proper medical care is not given, an overdose can be fatal. There is an increasing evidence of overdose related deaths nationally and internationally both. It is acknowledged that people who use/inject drugs are stigmatized. Even more marginalized and stigmatized are women who use/inject drugs. The present study attempts to understand the knowledge and responses of overdose among the women who injects drugs (heroin) in Manipur, India. Through a semi structured survey questionnaire data was collected from 50 women who inject drugs. Participants were identified through peer based and service providers who were already involved in the intervention program for injecting drug users in the area. All the 50 women interviewed had clear knowledge and information about Overdose. Even though the knowledge level is high, the women reported that they were not able to give appropriate services when overdose occurred. This calls for further efforts in empowering the women who use drugs and creating an enabling environment for greater uptake of the services.