Alcohol Use and Risk Behavior to STD and HIV/AIDS: A Study in Shillong among the Migrant College Students from the States of Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram

Students from the states of Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram come to Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, every year to pursue their further studies as they find it convenient to come and more over the head quarter of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) is located in Shillong. Moreover, the two states i.e., Nagaland and Manipur have been ravaged by decades of insurgency and secessionist activities. The resultant effect has had huge impact of growth of quality education institutes, especially those imparting college and higher education to the multitudes to students who pass from schools every year. Also with the pressure from church and socio-religious organization, these three states Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram have been declared as “dry states” where the sale of alcohol is prohibited by law but in these societies where drinking or consumption of alcohol is a part of their tradition, folklore and culture but conversely their states are dry states where selling of alcohol is banned. So this “contradiction” has its bearing on them the moment they come to Shillong which is a “wet state” where alcohol of any make and price is available in every nook and corner Therefore, it has been hypothesized that these migrants students would consume more alcohol as it is plentily available and engages in risky behaviors which could be a threat.