Health officials have warned of a steady rise in the number of HIV/AIDS patients, if timely action is not taken by the government as well as non-government organisations working in this sector to check the number of drug abusers in Kanchanpur district.

Mahendranagar, the district headquarter is specially under the threat of increasing HIV/AIDS due to the drug abusers since the past one year.

According to a survey, around 35 per cent of the youth between 14 to 35 years of age in Mahendranagar Municipality are drug addicts. Most of the drug addicts are from poor families and unemployed youth but some of them are also from rich families. They are usually seen taking drugs in groups.

Drug abusers here are found using more TD Jesic and avil injections, nitrogen tables than hemp or marijuana, says Ram Chandra Budha, general secretary of Nepal Medicine Entrepreneurs Association, Mahakali zonal unit.

These youth go to medical shops across the border where such drugs are easily accessible. They also consume drugs across the border and come back to Nepal under the influence of drugs and sometimes even carry it in their pockets, said a police officer at the Area Police Office, Gaddachauki.

Birendra Tiwari, vice-president of Mahakali Zonal Medicines Entrepreneurs Association says,” as these youth use a single syringe there is a high risk of acquiring HIV and the number of HIV/AIDS infected patients in the district has been rapidly increasing”. There are 300 to 400 drug addicts in Mahendranagar market area alone, he adds.

“If you drink a quarter of vodka that costs Rs 100 and it keeps you intoxicated for 3 to 4 hours but if you take a bottle of phensidil it gives you the kick throughout the day”, said a drug addict on condition of anonymity.

The government should strictly monitor the smuggling of such medicines from across the border apart from running social awareness programmes against the social malady, added Budha.