Dreamz Unlimited performs EDGE OF LIFE – A play on drug addiction
Morung Express Feature
Dimapur | June 27
Since the last decade, India is in threat like it has never been before as it is badly hit by the storm of drug. According to official record, an estimated 7.5 crore Indians are drug addicts and the number is going up significantly, spreading to semi-urban and backward areas. The drug abuse prevalence is uneven in the country. However, the concern is large as a high concentration of drug addiction in our country belongs to the teenage age group.
Keeping this in mind, Dreamz Unlimited- A Theatre Society of Nagaland has conceived a thirty minutes drama, titled ‘EDGE OF LIFE – A play on drug addiction’ where they aim to present the life stories of six teenagers who are into drug addiction. The main focus of the play is to show the reasons behind the drug addiction problem and how young teenagers get into drug addiction. The answers range from peer pressure, overcoming stress, and fear of rejection to the aesthetic highs they get from them or even the emotional trauma they face in their homes, schools and colleges.
With this original play, a ten member team led by Dreamz Unlimited president Tiakümzuk Ao, general secretary Mughato Chishi and finance secretary Bokavi Swu participated in the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking programme under the theme “Say no to drugs” at Sri Satya Sai International Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi on June 26. The event was sponsored by National Institute of Social Defence under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and coordinated by NEZCC.
The main plot of ‘Edge of life,’ revolves around six teenagers who are caught in the drug menace. However, the play not only highlights the menace of drugs and its ill effects in the society, but what it has cleverly achieved is present a narration through the dialogue of a layman who in reality, fails to understand what drugs is all about. There is also another character, who is judgmental by nature and already possess a preconceived notion of people addicted to drugs. This character does not care more or less for people addicted to drugs and feels that giving them time is a waste of his own.
As the play develops, the character becomes immersed in the stories of the teenagers and soon realizes that that not all drug users get into this bad habit because of pleasure or a conscious choice but also because of many other reasons. He becomes aware that that people should be motivated to work for this cause, because if not taken care of now, this epidemic will continue to increase and take lives of many, may be of our dear ones too. It is people like them who should make an effort to improve them and bring them to the right track.
Overall, the drama points out the harsh fact that it is not an easy deal for drug users to kick the habit. Very importantly, what is brought out to light is the awareness that sometimes, it is not only the habit of using drugs to be accounted for but that users are addicted in the first pave because they are unhappy with their lives. Also, many users when after a point want to get rid of the habit fail to do so.
