The modern societies are plagued with many social problems due to various reasons and one among them is drug addiction. It has become a major problem in our so called modern societies. Addiction is the habitual, psychological and psychological dependence on a substance or practice which is beyond voluntary control. A person who is habituated to a substance or practice especially on harmful one is called an addict. A person addicted to consuming drugs loses control and is unable to live without it. It includes abusing alcohol, cannabis, opium, hashish, ganja, brown sugar, shoe polish, heroin, correction fluid, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, opium, painkillers and nicotine. Consumption of Drugs like these help the person to feel good about them and increase the release of the hormone from the brain called dopamine also called the happiness hormone. As they continue to use the drug, the brain starts to increase dopamine hormone levels and the person demands more and more that causes serious consequences like anxiety, depression, psychosis, damage vital organs, paranoia, shakes or tremors, bloodshot eyes, insomnia, increase risk of HIV and Jaundice, impotence, chromosomal abnormalities, defective offspring. Drug abuse also increases accidents, crimes, domestic violence, suicide rates, burglary, trafficking, and attacks on public thus affecting social, personal, and professional relationships. The youth once addicted to drugs become difficult for them to quit, and feel unstable in absence of drugs. They can take extreme steps for getting their drugs and what amount they have to pay for same. Jammu and Kashmir has been witnessing steep increase of drug abuse for the past many years due to easy accessible drug abuse substances to the youth and the youth particularly age group13-30 fell prey to drugs. As per recent report of Srinagar PCR’s Drug de addiction centre, most drug abusers fall in the age group of 18-35 years. While the numbers affected by is very high, the patient flow at the de-addiction centre is alarmingly too. In the year 2019, 633 were registered at the PCR, which has gone up to 1,978. While 81% were male, there were over 19% females suggesting that the number of female drug abusers too is on the rise in the otherwise conservative society. Started in 2008, the PCR’s de-addiction centre has treated 10,000 above abusers till date. As per the 2020 data of Jammu and Kashmir Police, around 1672 person involved in drug smuggling and peddling was arrested.
Among which 35 drug peddlers were booked under public safety Act (PSA). The official reports are crystal clearly showing an increasing graph of drug abusers, smugglers and peddlers in the valley. What forces young youth and women to take drugs? There are several responsible causes that lure them towards drug abuse like Job issues, mental disturbances ,failure in exams, family conflicts, availability of drugs, social isolations, relief from pain, Pleasure, living in conflict zone, Lack of awareness ,Financial problems at home, Friends pressure desire for more work, Curiosity, excitement and adventures. The need of hour is to make our societies free from drug menace and save our talented and budding youth and women from drug abuse, it is possible only if all the stake holders break their criminal silence and must take effective action on ground. The joint team work from government, civil society, educational institutions, motivational speakers, and mental health professionals will prove much effective against the menace. Apart from that, establishment of more Drug de addiction and rehabilitation centers, education and awareness of people, massive crackdowns and stringent punishments on drug peddlers and alcohol smugglers, free counseling and medication for drug addicts, implementing laws and rules honestly, enacting more stringent laws to deal with drug peddlers and smugglers. Let’s join hands together to fight collectively and with determination and commitment for the healthy and constructive society.
(The author is a Teacher at Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwah. Views are his own)
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