Drug Abuse Problem

India, witness on an average 10 suicides per day due to drug abuse. However, going against the popular belief Punjab witnessed just 4 suicides per million as compared to Kerala which had 14.2 suicides per million.

Factors Responsible

Social factors: Easy availability of drugs, unstable home environment, inadequate parent supervision, use of drugs by peer groups, a part of culture for heavy drinking & partying, highly competitive environment in schools & colleges
Economic factors: Poverty and unemployment for example agrarian distress in Punjab
Political factors: Nexus of political leaders with drugs mafia in this lucrative business
Sometimes people resort to drug abuse to overcome various problems like stress, anxiety disorders, physical ailment or even other form of mental disorder
The habit of landowners (such as in Punjab) supplying raw opium to farm labourers to make them to work harder, also has contributed to the problem
Cross border drug trafficking from Pakistan & Afghanistan

Results in family violence, divorces, abuses and related problems
On a larger scale it is a threat to social fabric of society as it results in increase in crime rate
Patients & their family members go through mental trauma & often are ostracized by the society

Economic Impact

Diversion of gov. resources to fight this problem which could have been used for social welfare programs
Results in lost human productivity, such as lost wages and decreased production which results from illnesses and premature deaths
Family member has to spend a lot of resources including time and money for rehabilitation of their beloved ones

Physiological Impact

Physiological effects of drug abuse vary by the type of drugs
Common symptons include delay in sleep, nervousness and anxiety in the user
If abuser stops taking the drug, the body experiences withdrawal symptoms, such as feeling weak, sick, getting hyper and aggressive.

Solutions

Maintaining a strict vigil at major transit route on international border
A zero-tolerance policy towards drug cartels, syndicates and peddlers.
Strict multi-pronged strategy integrating demand reduction, harm reduction & supply reduction
Preventing diversion of legal cultivation of opium, checking illicit cultivation of opium.
Effective and affordable rehabilitation centres across the country especially in states with high prevalence
Integrated approach at De-addiction centre – Treatment not only through allopathy but also through homeopathy, Ayurveda, acupuncture
Focus on high-prevalence drug groups such as sex workers, transportation workers and street children and focus on their rehabilitation
Creating awareness among various stakeholders through workshops, conference, nukkad naatak, especially among parents, school students & other susceptible groups
Including a subject in school curriculum about ill effects of drug abuse and preventive methods will go a long way in solving this issue

Providing clean needles, sterilization equipment etc. to drug users has proved to be effective in Manipur and other countries in reducing secondary damage like spread of AIDS and Hepatitis C.

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Lastly common people must understand that anybody can become drug abuser. Hence society must not ostracize and abuse drug abusers, rather they must intervene positively by atleast bringing the patient to de-addiction centre.