Drugs & Narcotics Consumption Scourge,controlling Demand Side by Brij Bhushan Goyal A Social Activist

The daily reports of drug overdose deaths coupled with seizures of different kinds of narcotics in large volumes from different parts of India at large and our state as well has been pricking the conscience of all those who are worried about the future of our youth and posterity. Very unfortunately, the drugs have been popularized by music, pop culture and mass media and now all sorts of narcotics invade our society. It is estimated that around 208 million people consume illegal drugs.

It is no longer only alcohol, traditional opium or cannabis (bhang) which are consumed, but all sorts of other narcotics are used now. List is long for all the commonly abused drugs such as: Marijuana, Alcohol, Synthetic Drugs, Ecstasy, Cocaine & Crack Cocaine, Crystal Meth & Methamphetamine, Inhalants, Heroin, LSD, Prescription drugs Abuse.

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment survey and figures officially released in December,2023 some data on addiction in India which is as per the comprehensive National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted by NDDTC, AIIMS during the year 2018. In the age group of 10-17 years there are 1crore and 28 Lac addicts. In the age group 18 to 75 years there is an alarming number of drug addicts which is whooping 22.10 crores.

Psychologists, psychiatrists and physicians all agree that it’s the first dose that allures always and ultimately it can lead to addiction which is hard to cure at times if the checks and effective rehabilitation efforts are no longer available in our social system. The dark drug menace when explored and analyzed incisively poses us with a horrible stark reality about how miserable the families of drug addicts are and how hapless parents and addicts find themselves to come out of the situation to a normal life.

There is no end to the supply side of narcotics which is coming from transborder unabated in many states of India. While border states are always more affected, the drug mafia conduits spread their trade everywhere. This is despite all sorts of newer ever checks made to apprehend the culprits. Mafia involved is always one step ahead to float and send drugs where they want through their vast network of peddlers. In fact, such peddlers know well wherefrom the demand for narcotics is coming be it village or towns. They have their conduits to make drugs available to newer and newer customers.

Currently, besides traditional drugs, now the medical synthetic drug opioids manufactured and prepared in clandestine pharma units are being sold briskly and mostly unchecked. Many wards do depend upon governmental deaddiction centers, but non availability of regular medicines which are mostly alternate soft opioids prescribed legally is a fact we cannot ignore and there were reports of clandestine sale out of such centers. Further, coupled with exploitation of addicts and their families by many private deaddiction centers have ruined many addicts and their families. Everyday, we learn about drug overdose deaths of mostly youth.

In order to save our generations from scourge we have to take proactive steps both by state governments as well as GOI to wage a sustained war on demand side of drugs from consumer addicts.

Currently, almost all the educational boards are offering study of science and basic physiology of body functions. Drugs are devastating our bodies where recouping health of a addict thro’ rehab programs is quite an uphill task. Such facilities are also not available adequately, a fact which we can’t ignore keeping in view the large number of addicts in our villages and towns. Let our children know how drugs damage our bodies and cripple us. Text books must contain chapters on this. Schools and colleges must rope in psychologists, psychiatrists and physicians too frequently through seminars etc. Often, it happens that the addicts are unaware of the support system. Every school/college should have GOI/STATE helplines open and the contact numbers be written on school college walls conspicuously. Further, it is observed that our school colleges do not have dedicated psychology councilors. In fact, there is dearth of such professionals due to psychology as a subject not being offered. This anomaly can be corrected by training more psychologists particularly dealing with drug addiction and rehabilitation. Make this subject a choice too in post middle class syllabus.

There are many well-meaning NGOs/Individuals who are working in their own ways to educate our youth and people at large against ill effects of drugs. All such entities are financially supported after cross checking their antecedents and accounts and they must work in consonance with the state/central narcotics control programs officials. Such NGOs who must be certified by the government and they can provide their contact numbers for complete psychological support and rehabilitation at a proper center or hospital at no cost to the addict.

Further, such NGOs/Individuals can play a very effective role in listening to drug addicts who have fallen into this scourge because of frustration due to unemployment/underemployment. This may include sufferers from literate as well as illiterates. A dedicated helpline mobile number with complete guidance in every language can make a great difference in saving many a life falling in drug trap and /or coming out of the vicious cycle of drug consumption.

Though GOI/States narcotics departments are doing their task to plug all transborder loopholes, yet much more is required to equip the machinery by equipping them with latest techniques of identifying the origin and route of the big and smaller drug lords and small drug traffickers. The police /security agencies black sheep must be exposed and put behind bars quickly adopting zero tolerance. Politicking on the issue and blame game leads nowhere.

Public only depends on governmental efforts to check the supply side of narcotics. But the demand side can be effectively curtailed by thoughtful interventions with a clear mission and vision to reduce/eradicate the menace in a time bound manner with close cooperation of each and everyone.