Drug Market is expanding everyday & Teens are getting trapped easily

June 26, the International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking

Every year, on June 26, the International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking is observed globally.  The theme of this year is ‘Health for Justice and Justice for Health’.

Though it is a crime to produce, purchase and use drugs; in the name of enjoyment myriad youngsters fall prey to drugs. India is not an exception in this regard. The drug market is expanding as we speak. For instance, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India had seized drugs weighing 6,400 kgs (Opium, Morphine, Heroine, Ganja, Hashish, Cocaine, Meth, Poppy Straw and Ephedrine) in just the month of January, 2019  alone and which could worth several hundreds of crores, could even be a thousand crore too.

More than 1000 acres of land used for cultivation of ganja, poppy straw in Bhuvaneswar, Patna, Imphal, Ranchi, Jharkhand and Assam have been brought under control by the NCB. Recently during the month of May, 2019, Rs.400 crores worth of drugs was seized in Greater Noida. The drug market is expanding everyday. The profit in trading with Drugs is huge but people who traffic drugs only see this and not the great risk they make in the lives of people and in society.  More than 65 Indian involved in drug trafficking were arrested during the month of January by the NCB and other nationals like Nepalese, Sudanese and Nigerians were also arrested in connection with drug trade.

As per studies and researches, the people who fall prey to the drugs are between 12-25 years of age. The initiation usually happens during the mid-teen ages and it gets firm at mid-20s. Jumping this period without becoming a victim of drug abuse is a challenge.

Some say it is for pleasure or escape from stress but drugs ultimately leads to destruction and death of not just one’s self but the people around him/her too. Yes, a small percentage of women of today have become addicted to drugs, as per UN Reports. Women with substance use disorders are reported to have high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and may also have experienced childhood adversity such as physical neglect, abuse or sexual abuse.

A study made by UN says deaths resulting from direct use of drugs have been steadily rising by 60% between 2000-2015 globally. So preventing a teen’s or a person’s first encounter with drugs is crucial for any parent or family member. If a person is found to have been addicted to drugs, he/she should not be isolated by the family members rather that person should be given care just like how a person with sickness is treated.

If the person is judged and treated poorly, chances of his/her dependence on drugs could only increase and it may even lead to crimes or self-harm. He needs rehabilitation and proper guidance. Today, teachers at schools and colleges have increased responsibility in raising awareness about this issue to the young minds. When we spoke to people who have come across drug abusers, we learned that usually at the first year of college, a student finds comfort in drugs that are introduced to them by hostelers or outside friends circle who have connection with the already drug practitioners.  The government is doing its part and so are the educational institutions yet evil lives on. We need to work hard to bring an end to drugs.

Yury Fedotov, Executive Director, UN Office on Drug and Crime in a statement has said that  “Social inclusion and building resilience, as well as rehabilitation and reintegration, are instrumental in helping prevent crime and violence. Connectedness and communication in families, schools and communities can play a major role in strengthening our societies’ defences against drugs.

Better understanding of drug problems is also needed. Research and analysis are necessary to inform policy and enable international cooperation around evidence-based solutions. UNODC remains committed to supporting all countries to work together and promote balanced, health- and rights-based approaches to drug challenges, building on the international drug control conventions, human rights obligations and the Sustainable Development Goals.”