Dr. Satyavan Saurabh: Crime and drugs can be related in many ways. First, the illegal production, manufacture, distribution, or possession of drugs may be a crime. Second, drugs can increase the likelihood of other, non-drug offenses occurring. Third, drugs can be used to make money. And fourth, drugs can be closely linked to other major problems, such as murder, illegal use of guns, various forms of violence, and terrorism. Whether illegal drug use should be considered a crime, what causes drug abuse, and who is ultimately responsible.
A continuum exists between accepted social status and crime. There is law-abiding behavior on the one hand and criminal activity on the other. Between these two extremes lies deviant behavior and delinquency. Many marginalized individuals who use drugs do not become criminals. According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), India is one of the major centers of illicit trade in drugs ranging from centuries-old cannabis to newer drugs like tramadol and designer drugs like methamphetamine (which was the recent murder of Sonali Phogat). is one of them.
The money received from the drug trade is used to finance terrorism, human trafficking, illegal businesses, etc. India is located between two major illicit opium production regions of the world, the Golden Crescent to the west and the Golden Triangle to the east, making it a viable center of the illegal drug trade. The Golden Triangle includes regions of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand and is the main opium-producing region of Southeast Asia and one of the oldest drug supply routes to Europe and North America. The Golden Crescent includes Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan and is a major global site for opium production and distribution.
Instead of sending people to court for drug possession, its model focuses on education, treatment, and harm reduction. Around 275 million people worldwide used drugs last year. More than 36 million people suffered from drug use disorders. An increase in cannabis use during the pandemic has been reported by most countries. The same period also saw the non-medical use of medicinal drugs. The latest global estimates say that about 5.5 percent of the population between the ages of 15 and 64 have used a drug at least once in the past year. It is estimated that globally more than 11 million people inject drugs – half of them have hepatitis C.
Major causes of drug abuse are peer acceptance, increasing economic stress, changes in cultural values, neurotic enjoyment, and ineffective policing. That’s why recently after Sushant Rajput, India’s social media star Sonali Phogat had to be a victim of untimely death. Whatever the reason, the drug killed both of them. Cases and numbers of drug abuse in India are increasing day by day. Drug abuse seriously affects our health, safety, peace, and development. Drugs lead to a higher risk of accidents, incidents of domestic violence, medical problems, and death, as well as wasting economic potential. Drug dependence, low self-esteem, and depression can lead to criminal activity and even suicidal tendencies. Challenges to Curbing Drug Hazards A huge problem with legally available drugs such as tobacco is usually seen as a gateway drug that children take just for the sake of use. There is a lack of rehabilitation centers. Moreover, the NGOs operating de-addiction centers in the country have failed to provide the required kind of treatment and therapy. Drug smuggling through states like Punjab, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh, which share borders with neighboring countries.
Following the government’s initiative to combat drug addiction, it set up a Narco-Coordination Center (NCORD) in November 2016 and revived the scheme of “Financial Assistance to States for Narcotics Control”. The Narcotics Control Bureau has been provided funds to develop a new software i.e. Seizure Information Management System (SIMS) which will create a complete online database of drug offenses and offenders. The Government has set up a fund called “National Fund for the Control of Drug Abuse” to meet the expenditure incurred on combating illegal traffic in Narcotic Drugs; Rehabilitation of addicts, educating the public against drug abuse, etc.
The government is also conducting a National Drug Abuse Survey to measure drug abuse trends in India through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with the help of the National Drug Dependence Treatment Center of AIIMS. ‘Project Sunrise’ was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2016 to tackle the rising prevalence of HIV in India’s northeastern states, especially among people who inject drugs. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, (NDPS) 1985 prohibits any person from producing, possessing, selling, buying, transporting, storing, and/or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance. The NDPS Act has been amended thrice since then – in 1988, 2001, and 2014. The Act extends to the whole of India and applies to all Indian citizens outside India and also to all persons on ships and aircraft registered in India.
The government has also announced the launch of ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’, or drug-free India campaign which focuses on community outreach programs. Addiction should not be seen as a character flaw, but as a disease that another person is struggling with. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the stigma associated with drug abuse. Society needs to understand that drug addicts are not criminals but victims. Some crop drugs that contain more than 50% alcohol and opioids need to be included. To curb the drug menace in the country, strict action is required from the police officers and the Excise and Narcotics Department. The NDPS Act needs to be strictly implemented. The education curriculum should also include chapters on drug addiction, its effects, and de-addiction. Proper counseling is another option.
