From time immemorial drugs have been used by mankind for medical purposes. But never before had the abuse of narcotics caused such unprecedented world wide concern and posed an alarming menace to the society.
According to World Health Orginzation estimate, there are over 750000 heroin addicts, 4.8 million cocaine abusers, 11.76 million opium abusers and 3.4 million abusers of barbiturates sedatives and tranquilizers around the world today and these figures are increasing to an alarming extent.
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Even the eastern hemisphere is no longer secure from the network. Drugs have fast spread the planet at speed, and proved once again that the earth is a small place to live in. The abuse of drug is now an international problem that bothers the Indians and Americans alike.
The future generation is virtuality being crippled by the spread of drugs. Drug abuser is completely self created and cares least about others. A drug abuser loses his will power, concentration, memory and judgment capacity.
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When in need of money, he does not hesitate to steal or indulge in other anti-social activities a new addict develop friendship with fellow addicts and gradually enters the so-called drug sub-culture. He is then regarded as an outcaste in the society and there is little chance that he shall again lead a healthy life.
To start with the addict who takes drug to alleviate pain or get a thrill at the persuasion of his friends quickly he develops a mental dependence to the thrill. Gradually he becomes physically dependent too requiring increasing dose daily, in absence of which he shows “withdrawal symptoms”.
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Ultimately the addiction becomes a habit when the sheer thought of taking drugs thrills him. Enquiries have attributed the addiction to a subject to his healthy, morality, environmental factors and even genetic factors. Recent finding show that 80% of the heroin addicts in India are in the age group of 14 to 24 years, the crucial age of adolescence.
In fact drug habit has become a fashion among young people in the country’s principal urban centers. In order to be modern and march with the times students are having generous pocket money. Some other people get addicted to overcome frustration and mental agony.
Children of quarrelling parents are also found to be prone to addiction. Studies conducted in the United States, United Kingdom and Japan has shown that the fathers of the addicts are generally indifferent or mentally weak.
Besides the lack of healthy education, uninspiring lectures by teachers and dull books and unhealthy pictures degrade moral values of the youth and may lead to addiction.
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Minor tranquilizers prescribed by doctors may also lead to addiction if taken regularly for a considerable length of time. The total permissiveness in Indian Society on western lines is also responsible for the fast spreading drug menace.
Gone are the days when the eastern and the poor developing countries were free from drug abuse. Record seizures of various intoxicants in the recent time by the police have focused the spotlight on drug abuse in India also. But the seizures are only the tip of the iceberg.
In fact, drug trafficking is now considered as second only to armaments a had even more lucrative than oil business. The Asian drug circuit and American Mafias work in coordination as the Golden crescent (the junction of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan and Golden Triangle) the junction of Thailand, Burma and Laos) serve as prime source of narcotics.
The role of India as a major transit route for international drug trafficking has also caused much concern around the world. Narcotics trade was the main source of income of Taliban’s in Afghanistan. The billion of dollars worth trade not only sustained their economy despite US and UN economic sanctions but also helped to promote International terrorism.
The overwhelming magnitude of the looming calamity requires the voluntary indulgence of the youth to appraise the masses of ill-effects of the drug and symptom of an addict. The medical treatment for detoxification is not sufficient unless supplemented by group therapy.
Under this treatment the medically treated addict must be brought in regular connection with an Anti Drug Community where former addicts shall instill confidence in them. Treatment by behavioral psychotherapy may also come to help.
The addicts may also be helped to change their negative outlook by other therapies. At the same time, the cultural growth of the addict should be encouraged (through group songs) and he can be linked to some craftwork too. There should be strict suppression by his parents and friends.
The gravity of the present situation demands that the authority and the masses, the government institution and non-official rehabilitation centres should work hand in hand with one other. But the question still lingers why the Indian government does not take strict action to crush the drug industry as is done by the United States.