The book, Dynamics of Drug Addiction and Abuse in India (Routledge, UK and USA, 2024 edition), a research-based study by Dr. Ranjit Singh Ghuman (Professor of Eminence, GNDU, Amritsar), Dr. Jatinder Singh and Dr. Gurinder Kaur (both Assistant Professors at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Chandigarh) reminds us about the menace of drug addiction and abuse. A National Policy with framework of national campaign against drug addiction is the need of the hour, believes Prof Ghuman.
There are three major global centres of heroin and cocaine production and processing in the world. These are the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Thailand and Laos), the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan), and South America. Indian states, sharing international border, became more vulnerable since they fell directly on the trans-shipment routes. Punjab and some other north-western states of India became a transit route of drug trafficking. The trend has witnessed an increase since the 1980s when heroin entered into trafficking and became part of the underground economy of drug-business in the country.
Professor Ghuman said, “Our study pertains to five states of north-west India with main focus on Punjab. The other four states are Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan and Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir. The empirical part of the study is based on the quantitative and qualitative data and information collected from 3386 respondents including drug addicts and civil society. The main objective of our study was to understand the socio-cultural and politico-economic dynamics of drug addiction and abuse and not to estimate the extent of drug menace.”
On the main findings of the study, he said, “Almost all the drug addicts were males in the drug de-addiction centers (DDCs) rehabilitation centers and such other centres dealing with drug treatment. However, during our interactions with various social groups and other knowledgeable persons we came to know that females, even young girls, were also taking intoxicants. Majority of the addicts come from nuclear families.”
He further said, “Nearly 73 percent of the addicts were in the age group of 17-35 years. A sizeable majority of the addicts are educated up to senior secondary (12th standard) level. The occupational data of the addicts reveals that on the face of it unemployment is not the main reason behind drug-addiction but under-employment and low-paid employment (working poor) seem to be among the prominent reasons for drug addiction.”
On the factors behind drug addiction, Ghuman said, “The consumption of intoxicants by the elders in the household, especially father, exerts a significant influence in inciting youth towards intoxicants and other drugs. Approximately 83 percent of the addicts got hooked to intoxicants and drugs under the peer pressure of classmates and friends. But there were a host of other socio-cultural reasons in the background which created such circumstances that pushed them to the consumption of intoxicants and drugs.”
The book has also highlighted about main drugs and the source of drug supply. Heroin (chitta/ brown-sugar), Opium, Tramadol, Poppy Husk (bhukki), Cannabis (bhang/sukha), Marijuana (ganja/smack), Buprenorphine, Codeine, Hashish (charas), and Cocaine are ten drugs being commonly consumed in the states under study. Seemingly, drug peddlers are the main source of supply but behind them there is a well-knit chain of drug suppliers. Currently, women have also entered into drug peddling. About 66 percent of the addicts who underwent treatment in the de-addiction centres again got into drug consumption mainly due to peer-pressure, curiosity and withdrawal symptoms.
Social and economic cost
On its impact, Prof Ghuman said, “There is immense social and economic cost of drug addiction and abuse in terms of adverse impact on the health of the drug addicts. Serious ailments such as HIV and Hepatitis A and Hepatitis C are other adverse impacts on the addict’s health. The premature deaths caused by such ailments have major economic cost for the family, society and the economy. Widespread drug use and abuse also puts huge financial burden on health delivery system, law and order, governance and prisons. It has been found that more than 97 percent of the addicts experienced huge financial loss due to their habit of drug addiction and abuse.”
On the role of elected bodies, police and politicians, he said, “The government, elected bodies, police, political parties, NGOs and religious organizations often claim that they are making efforts to curb drug menace and spread awareness about the ill-effects of drugs. It is mainly because of an indifferent attitude towards the drug problem in society and vote politics. A majority of the respondents were of the opinion that no effective awareness activities are being carried out.
According to him, “Most of the respondents said that promotion of gun-culture, drugs and vulgarities through songs, social media, movies, and even on some T.V. channels is a powerful tool to incite youth towards many social ills, including drug addiction and abuse. The police often hesitate to catch the ‘big fish’ mainly because of the deep-rooted nexus between some political leaders, police officials and big drug suppliers/smugglers.”
The recommendations made in the book are: The problem of drug addiction and abuse is the manifestation of deep-rooted and widespread distortions in the socio-cultural and politico-economic system. Accordingly, solution shall have to be systemic and multi-pronged. There are three fundamental challenges: to curb supply of and demand for drugs; to de-addict and rehabilitate the addicts; and to prevent the new-entry, especially that of teens, into drug-consumption. The unholy nexus between the politicians, big smugglers and police needs to be broken with a heavy hand.
There is need to identify and address the fundamental socio-cultural and politico-economic reasons behind drug addiction and abuse and address those issues in a time-bound and evolving mode if we really want a sustainable solution. It is also necessary to identify the unregistered and hidden drug users, including females. Since the problem of drug use starts at an early age, the awareness system among school-going children, especially from elementary schools onwards must be a continuous programme. A social movement against the prevailing drug menace, with a missionary zeal, is a must if we really want to eradicate this evil.
Meanwhile, the Goa zone of Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) has demanded government to ensure Goa is a drug-free State. To address the growing menace of addiction especially amongyouth and easy availability of drugs among students, the SIO organised a 10-day campaign on the theme ‘De-Addicting Goa 2.0’ during 10-20 December.
During the concluding function in Panjim, SIO Goa president, Usman Khan said only the youth can change the future course of Goa. He added, “Students should pledge to eradicate this Drug Menace from the Goan Educational institutions and Goan Society at large.”
After consultations and deliberations on Drug Addiction, SIO Goa zone has put a number of demands in the public forum, including identification and closure of drug hotspots across Goa; police van patrolling around the schools during break time as well as when the students leave the school in the afternoon.
Yunus Mulla, SIO Zonal secretary told Radiance, “SIO by the end of this month will also submit a memorandum to Chief Minister of Goa. There should be a national policy by the government, keeping in mind the menace of drug addiction. Drug addiction is spreading like a virus and young students are becoming drug addicts. The people and the government should foresee the dangers these students are in. We can imagine the society we are trying to create.”
In 2021, SIO Andhra Pradesh launched10-day ‘Social Evils Eradication Campaign’. Issues the campaign addressed were:Addiction (Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, Betting, Mobile Gaming and Pornography), Mental Disorders (Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Suicidal Tendencies, and Behaviour (Individualism, Intolerance, Inequality, Bulling, Ragging, Moral and ethical degradation).
“The tragedy is that youths are missing the simple fact that toxins are hazardous. Governments and private companies, for their own selfish interests, are (overtly or covertly) encouraging the consumption of cigarettes, tobacco, liquor and drugs,” said SIO in a press statement earlier. The statement urged the youths ‘to see beyond the smokescreen of temporary-pleasures and instead of wasting their energies concentrate on constructive tasks in the society.’
Earlier SIO Telangana had also launched a 10-day campaign “Aasha-e-Zindagi”, targeting the issue of addiction. The campaign was aimed at public awareness on the potential threat of addiction covering various topics like drug abuse, addiction psychology, rehabilitation processes, drug gangs and mafia, preventive measures and possible solutions, and roles of government, family and others.
In Kashmir, fight against drug addiction among youth has intensified from mosque to classrooms. The Magam Imambara has also become the Valley’s first religious centre to make screening test kits available for local people.