The term ‘drug’ has now been given a new connotation. It was used originally for medicine; hence the shops were named as ‘drug house’ or ‘drug store’. However, nowadays, the term ‘drug’ means not only medicine, but also the fatal narcotics that include cocaine, sidenifil, heroin, brown sugar, and many other specifications. All these drugs have their evil effects on the mind and body cells of the addicts. The young generations, particularly teenagers, are the worst victims of evils of drug addiction.
The business of arms and ammunitions, drugs and pornography are the three most leading important trades of the world. Actually speaking, no politicians or any leader has the guts to stop purchasing costly arms and ammunitions nor stop drug trafficking. Many countries’ economy depends on one or all of the above three.
To weaken a country, one must weaken its youth through different approach, out of which drug is the easiest way. In India, drug addiction has kept up pace with a number of educational institutes, increase in number of students and their stress level. The other day the author of this article came across boy and girl students pursuing higher studies, who confessed to have taken to drugs, alcohol and other substance to get rid of boredom and loneliness! The use of these addictive agents has reached villages across India.
The capital city of Odisha which had hardly fifty alcohol shops during 70s now has more than 500. Why not? The Government encourages drinking and the revenue earned is again recycled for vote bank and the cycle continues. Most of the RTA and sexual abuse are as a result of alcohol and drug ingestion by the youths and middle aged educated citizens.
There are two types of shops ‘bottle open’ and ‘bottle closed’. During last T20 cricket match one ‘bottle open’ shop keeper said to have sold few gallons of hard drinks and beer within four hours! Once the IPL starts the hotel, alcohol and eatery business flourish.
Good students after passing out join some multinational firm and go out of the country never to return again. A few of students join politics or other activities to earn quick bucks. Actually majority of us do not think about the country but criticise our own culture and system. There are plenty of vacant posts in defence but our youths are more interested in Hindi films, comedy shows, cricket rather than joining the defence force or other social service. Most of the new generation thinks money is everything and it can buy everything. They do not have patience and determination; as a result, our society is in turmoil.
To forget depression, these youths become dependent on the drug and become addicts, despite having full knowledge of its harmful effects on health. It is considered a brain disease because it changes the structure and functioning of the brain.
With such an increasing number of youths under drug influence, the country becomes weak and exploited by the bad elements. We have to fight internal and external enemy as well. The meaning of democracy has been misinterpreted by our people. Certain universities have political affiliation and these students are used by the rebels and separatists to unsettle the country. Huge amount of money flows into our country to unsettle the economy and the defence system. The money flows through drug trafficking.
Curiosities, desire for pleasure, isolation, mental gap, lack of self-reliance are some of the reasons why the youths become drug-addicts.
The problem of drug addiction is all the more serious because the addicts are mostly young school or college going boys and girls. So, it is imperative to see that such young boys and girls may by no means fall victim to drug addiction.
Teen age pregnancy and drug addiction in the tribal belt of Mayurbhanj has reached alarming proportions. One may visit the Baripada rehabilitation hostel for teen age girls to have a firsthand knowledge of where we are heading to.
Drug addiction among youths can be prevented if the youths are taught of its harmful consequences. If the young people are aware of the harmful effects of drug abuse, they would avoid drug at the first instance. Hence, drug abuse preventive programmes, if implemented effectively at schools and colleges, can become the most successful method to reduce and alleviate the problem.
Drugs and wars are the greatest threat to mankind. Drug addiction is the new name of a rare and new type of cancer in the Indian society. It has to be prevented at the initial stage lest we should be a weak country like a person with immunodeficiency disease.
(The writer is an ex-joint Director SAIL)