Plug supply of conventional drugs

Anil Sharma

Jammu:There are many reasons behind young people taking to drugs. Socio-political disturbances, easy availability, peer pressure and growing up pangs, academic failures and broken relationships, lack of parental guidance, easy availability of money, myths about drugs causing happiness, and drugs not causing harm or addiction are some of them. The Indian Army, ever sensitive to problems that can cause upheaval in society, has opened de-addiction and counseling centres in Srinagar and Baramulla. Many organisations are coming forward to address the issue, but the effort continues to fall wholly short of the requirement. There is an urgent need to plug the supply of conventional drugs from across the border. All demands being made by some vested interests to allow the passage of goods from the trade facilitation centres without proper checks should be rejected. Trade routes simply cannot be allowed to be used for spreading drug addiction. The number of de-addiction centres have to be increased, especially so in the villages and remote areas where the menace is unchecked. Requisite training needs to be imparted to doctors manning Primary Health Centres. There are so many facets of the problem like detoxification, relapse prevention and psychological counseling, etc. that need specialist intervention. The state government should not feel shy of seeking assistance from the Indian army. The force can be of great use due to its presence in remote rural areas and availability of requisite medical infrastructure across the state. It is heartening to note that the entire state machinery, especially the police and the army, are ready to render all possible assistance. An integrated approach will produce the desired results. People need to be sensitised about the ill effects of drugs. Families need to be educated to understand that there is a problem and there are means that should be tapped to deal with the same. A conscious effort has to be made to remove the stigma that comes with addiction. Trading posts opened between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir is conduits from where drug proliferation is being carried out. Drugs are also being carried by infiltrating terrorists. Drugs are the latest tool of terrorists and their masters in Pakistan to control the population of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Kashmir Valley. New age terrorists, both local and foreigners, are mostly drug addicts. Young boys are first channelled into addiction and then forced on to the path of terrorism. No doubt seizure of fake Indian currency notes and huge quantity of narcotics is an achievement for the agencies concerned but the fact remains that such cartels are still working without any fear of law.