Coping With Perils Of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is a social problem that has been growing unabated over the last few decades. Addiction to drugs generally starts at teenage or adolescence because teens or adolescents are immature and they cannot distinguish between right and wrong. Moreover, people of this age group are curious and inquisitive; they often want to experiment with new things. They are also influenced by peer pressure. Drugs are used for medical purposes. But when they are used for other purposes, it gives rise to what is popularly known as drug abuse. When drugs are used for purposes other than medical, they are called illicit drugs. Illicit drugs include pharmaceutical drugs such as heroin, opioids and benzodiazepines; phytological drugs such as cannabis and cocaine; and synthetic drugs such as amphetamines. 

Drug abuse emerged in Nepal during the late 1960s, when the hippy era began. During the period, foreigners used to visit the country to consume drugs. At the time, society was open as far as drugs were concerned. Marijuana and other drugs were openly sold in the market. The government had not banned the production, sale and consumption of drugs. Drug abuse has since grown to this day.    Estimates have it that there are over 130,000 people addicted to drugs in the country. And 70 per cent of them, i.e. 90,000, are believed to be mainliners. Mainliners are intravenous drug users. Tobacco and alcohol may be considered a precursor to drug abuse. In the country, consumption of tobacco and alcohol is taken for granted. When a person grows fed up with tobacco or alcohol, they may resort to drugs for more euphoria.

Bad company

Frustration among the youth is another cause for rising drug abuse in the country. When the youth grow frustrated for various reasons such as unemployment or deprivation, they may choose drugs as the last resort. Falling into bad company may also contribute to drug abuse in society. Drug abuse has grave implications not only on the drug users themselves but also on their families and society. It is even a national loss. It not only dents the pockets of the drug users but also may give rise to serious diseases such as HIV-AIDS, hepatitis B and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The prevalence of STDs is found more in mainliners than in other drug users.

Since drug abuse has raised its tentacles all over the country, its control has been urgent. The efforts of the government alone are not sufficient to control its menace; efforts from families, schools, colleges and other stakeholders are equally important. In this connection, it would be germane to mention that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is working towards controlling drug abuse. The bureau is working on the supply side of drugs. It takes preventive measures such as by organising awareness programmes at schools, colleges and other places. It also takes the initiative in destroying plantations of drug substances such as hemp. 

There is no doubt that drug abuse can be better controlled through the synergic efforts of non-governmental organisations, both local and international, the Department of Drug Administration, the media, educational institutions, communities and families. Families have a major role in controlling it. If families can monitor the activities of their children, it can be controlled to a large extent.  People get drugs mostly from India because we have an open border with that country. There are checkpoints at major areas of the border but the transportation of or trafficking in drugs has not come to a halt. As such, it has been imperative to monitor the border so as to prevent drugs from entering our country. 

There are many rehabilitation centres for the treatment of drug addicts. It may happen that drug addicts develop withdrawal syndrome during the course of treatment, forcing them to use drugs again. It is reported that the methods of treatment employed in rehabilitation centres are not always congenial; drug addicts may be subjected to torture and other inhuman treatment. The main objective of such centres should be to cure them of their addiction and restore them to society. They should be provided with necessary counselling and an environment should be created for them to live a dignified life again. They should be enabled to share their experiences open-heartedly by coming out of the cocoon of the stigma imposed on them. 

Prevention

Prevention is always better than cure. So the government and other stakeholders should take concrete measures to nip drug abuse in the bud. Drug abuse should be included in the curricula of schools and colleges in such a manner as to make students develop aversion to illicit drugs. The government should formulate a strong law against drug abuse targeting not only at drug users but also at drug traffickers, suppliers and sellers. Drug users should first be given a chance to improve themselves. There may be various factors leading to drug abuse. If drug users do not improve themselves, strong action should be taken against them. 

More importantly, drug traffickers, suppliers or sellers should be strictly monitored. They should be subjected to strong legal action. They are the ones who are hell-bent on ruining the life of the youth and destroying the fabric of society for greed of money. In some countries, such perpetrators are hanged to death but our country has no such law; not but what, severe action can be taken against them so as to discourage them from indulging in heinous crimes. 

(Maharjan has been regularly writing on contemporary issues for this daily since 2000.)