There is a huge misconception about menace commonly called as Drugs. Likewise, not every drug is vicious, nor the expedient. Every year International Day against Drug Abuse is celebrated on 26 June, in which different drugs related implications are raised. It is an exercise undertaken by the world community to sensitize the people in general and the youth in particular, to menace of drugs. The picture is grim if the world statistics on the drugs scenario is taken into account. With a turnover of around 500 billion dollars. It is the third largest business in the world, next to the petroleum and arms trade. About 190 million people across the globe consume one drug or other. The most prominent type of this menace are; Cannabis, Heroine and other Indian products. Cannabis product is often called as; Charas, Bhangg or Ganja are abused drugs throughout the country. Moreover, Intravenous injections of analgesics like Dextropropoxyphene are reported from many states. People use these drugs after being marked as illegal and injurious to health. In Kashmir, the situation is worse than the other states. A recent survey by Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said that 4.9 percent of the state’s population which comprises about 6 Lakh had abusing opioid drugs. Opioids drugs are class that includes the Illegal Heroine and the medical Morphine. The most concern is that the report put J&k state at number fifth in terms of Opioid abuse with Punjab at five. Data sourced from the Medical College Srinagar reveals that 76.8% percent of people abusing drugs are between the ages of 10 to 20 years and 94.4 percent of those found to be abusing drugs start with cigarettes.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, enacted with the stringent provisions to curb the menace. The act envisages 10-years of minimum imprisonment extendable up to 20 years and fine of Rupees One Lakh, extendable up to two lakhs for the offender. We have equivalent responsibility, we have to work hand in hand with government and non-government organizations; we cannot blame the system wholly. The most important cause of this hazard and, the study reveals that; Disintegration of joint old families, Absence of parental love and care in modern families, specially employed. Decline of religious and moral values etc. lead to the drug abuses in young generation. To curb this menace, we have to work collectively, robustly, need to change the rules of etiquette, most profoundly religious scholars must accentuate in their sermons that only alcohol is not prohibited in Islam, there are others too, from which you have to maintain distance. And those who are consuming drugs are skating on thin ice. Undoubtedly, our youth has reached its apogee in consuming drugs, delay may lead to harm, even may destroy our future generations.
(The Writer is student of journalism at Govt. Degree college Baramulla .Views are his own)
