Drug Addiction

Drug Addiction

The menace of drugs has spread fast among the youth of India. Both the affluent as well as those living in poverty are vulnerable to drug abuse. Unfor-tunately, India is a happy hunting ground for drug peddlers. It is so because it is sandwiched between the so called Golden triangle and the Golden-crescent. The former area comprises Thailand, Myanmar and Laos and the latter is covered by counties—Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
In India, the problem of drug addiction has many angles to it—biological, social, psychological and economic. The youth are the precious wealth of any country. Young persons with healthy mind and healthy bodies can brighten the future of any country. It is strange that inspite of warning against taking drugs, the youth get addicted to it.
The reasons are not far to seek. The family bond is gradually loosening. The parents are busy in getting and spending. Mostly the youth residing in hostels, fall easy prey to drug addiction. They are ever in search of thrill and excitement. Drug taking has often been attributed to uncertain future, unemployment, family problems, academic pressures. Moreover, new values in the form of free sex, drug abuse, false notion of independence are the new substitutes.
Above all, our unscrupulous political leaders are making hey-day. The criminalization of politics and dishonest bureaucracy fill the mind with despair. Criminals commit crime, political parties indulge in scandals and there is ’ always a willing bureaucracy to save them. Such a scenario can never fill the impressionable minds with zest and hope of bright future. So drugs offer them solace that they cannot expect from society. Those addicted to drug taking lose agility of mind, sense of friendliness, warmth and social awareness. In the long run, they suffer from schizophrenic state. They may also suffer persecution mania, an obsession of being tortured. They also develop tendency to commit suicide. But above all, they don't hesitate in indulging in any anti-social or anti-national activity at the cost of procuring drugs. The sudden boom in the infection of AIDS is a result of unsterilised needles used by the drug addicts. The spread of HIV has made drug addiction a menace to the health, life and peace of many families.

The problem cannot be dealt with in piecemeal measures. Multifarious strategy is required to tackle this problem. The parents, teachers, doctors and social workers need to work in tandem. An abuser cannot be forced to give up the habit. The initiative has to come from him. They require genuine love, concern, counselling and sacrifice on the part of family members. On medical management level, it is very important to cure with drawl symptoms. Rehabilitation programme may include provision of suitable employment, prayer, meditation and involvement in gainful activities.
The Government, has sanctioned assistance for setting up drug de-addiction centers. However, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act needs to be rigorously enforced. Due to corruption, traffic in Psychoactive drugs is run in connivance with the police and. other enforcement agencies. As such drug addiction is a problem that we have to overcome it from different angles and at different level.
The drug taking is the most potential menace for the youth, society and country. The enemies of the country find the youth soft target and bring about ultimate ruin of the country. There are enemies within the country in the form of anti-social and anti-national elements. The menace of drug is not related only to taking drugs. It is a problem relating to sale and purchase of drugs in the country itself. There are many types of psychoactive drugs according to their I properties and the major responses they bring about. There are a number of drugs and India is the happy hunting ground for those becoming rich overnight at the cost of the future of the country. It is such a lucrative business that the political leaders interested in making money are part and parcel of the crime world.