Drug abuse

JUNE 26 is observed as the International Day against Drug Abuse to focus on the cost of addiction to society and generate enthusiasm to fight its spread. Illegal drug trade is a $ 400 billion turnover undertaking surpassing even the oil and gas industry and equivalent to 8 per cent of the total international trade. With a customer base of 190 million users spread worldwide addiction poses a great threat to humanity.

In our own country, what started off as casual use among a minuscule population of high income group youth in the metro has permeated to all sections of society. Inhalation of heroin alone has given way to intravenous drug use, that too in combination with other sedatives and pain killers. This has increased the intensity of the effect, hastened the process of addiction and complicated the process of recovery. Ganja, the locally grown, inexpensive drug with its totally unwarranted reputation of being a ``harmless'' one has claimed its own toll.

Over the years, the characteristics of the drug using population and drugs used have changed but spread of addiction continues with no signs of abatement. The scene is not too different in other parts of the world. Addiction has left its mark on every country - irrespective of whether it is a production base, a transit point or a consumer country.

Drugs and crime

At the national level, drug trafficking is intrinsically linked with racketeering, conspiracy, corruption, illegal money transfers, terrorism and violence threatening the very stability of governments.

Drugs and crime go hand in hand otherwise too. Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs remove inhibition and impair judgment egging one on to commit offences. Incidence of eve- teasing, group clashes, assault and impulsive murders increase with drug abuse. One study in the U.K. reported that 50 per cent of the street crimes took place under the influence of drugs.

Apart from affecting the financial stability, addiction increases conflicts and causes untold emotional pain for every member of the family. Domestic violence, separation, divorce and other forms of family break-up are a direct result of addiction.

With most drug users being in the productive age group of 18-35 years, the loss in terms of human potential is incalculable. The damage to the physical, psychological, moral and intellectual growth of the youth is very high. Increase in incidence of HIV, hepatitis B and C and tuberculosis due to addiction adds the reservoir of infection in the community burdening the health care system further.

At least 7-10 per cent of the workforce is affected by addiction. A study estimated that drug abusers are one third less productive, 3 times more likely to have accidents and are absent twice as often. The quality of work is poor. All of these cut into the profits of the enterprise. These manifold problems only show signs of increase with new entrants continuing to join the drug abusing population. In this scenario, no youngster, no family can be seen as ``safe''.

U.N. efforts

Addiction is a threat that should be addressed. The United Nations Drug Control Programme has done considerable work in reducing illicit drug production and curtailing trafficking through international collaboration efforts. Yet, one needs to recognise that drug networks are well established. The methods of production, transport and sale are constantly changing and becoming more and more sophisticated. The value of drugs increases by more than 100 times by the time it reaches the customer. Just transporting 1 kg of heroin across India can earn the trafficker Rs. 1 to 1.5 lakhs. Considering the massive profits involved, curtailing the availability is no easy task.

The Government of India apart from establishing measures to reduce the availability also partially supports more than 350 treatment and prevention programmes. The International Labour Organisation has launched its `Work Place Prevention Programme' to increase awareness about the problem. Yet these efforts in isolation cannot be beneficial.

The social acceptability of alcohol has increased leading to dramatic increase in alcohol consumption. Majority of the population believe in many faulty messages about alcohol and drugs. There is an over-awareness about drugs among the youth and lack of awareness among the adults which is another cause for concern. Massive awareness and prevention programmes covering all groups are desperately needed.

The drug problem needs to be viewed as ``our problem'' calling for collective community involvement and action.

V. THIRUMAGAL

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