Day 55 – Q 2.How is drug abuse a serious security threat in India? Explain. Which regions of India are the worst affected? What measures can be taken to address drug abuse? Suggest.

2. How is drug abuse a serious security threat in India? Explain. Which regions of India are the worst affected? What measures can be taken to address drug abuse? Suggest. 

भारत में नशीली दवाओं का दुरुपयोग एक गंभीर सुरक्षा खतरा कैसे है? भारत के कौन से क्षेत्र इस समस्या से सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित हैं? नशीली दवाओं के दुरुपयोग को दूर करने के लिए क्या उपाय किए जा सकते हैं? सुझाव दें।

Drug menace is a global problem. Drug abuse refers to the habit of regular intake of illegal drugs characterized by misuse of drugs. There is a thin line of difference between Drug abuse and addiction. In the case of drug abuse, the person may or may not be addicted to these harmful drugs. However, in the case of drug addiction, the person is severely addicted to these drugs. Thus, drug abuse may often lead to drug addiction.

Body: 

According to the NCRB report, some of the drugs are Ganja, Methaqualone, Ephedrine/Pseudo Ephedrine, Hashish and Heroin. Apart from these, the abuse of pharmaceutical drugs is also on the rise.

India is situated between two important drug supply centres: Golden Crescent (Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan) and the Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar). Because of this, India has always been in transit as well as gradually a consumption point. So it is difficult to say that drug abuse has come down in India.

Reasons for growing drug abuse in India:

• Presence of Golden crescent and triangle in the neighbourhood.
• Siphoning of drugs in the market even by the officials.
• Porous border and trafficking, illegal migrants.
• A large amount of black money in the market also helps in flourishing illegal businesses.
• The ‘dark net’ trend, although illegal, had raised concerns of attracting a new population of drug users as it avoids direct contact with criminals and law-enforcing authorities.
• Jobless growth and prevalence of unemployment.

• No proper implementation of laws.
• Corruption

Drug abuse a serious security threat in India:

Drugs smuggled from across the border poses a serious threat to India’s internal security preparedness in the following ways:-

• The involvement of various terrorist groups and syndicates in drug trafficking leads to threats to the national security and sovereignty of states by the way of narco-terrorism.
• Provide finance for the terror activities in the country.
• Same links and sources can also be used for smuggling arms and creating terror in the area.
• Youth once engulfed into drugs are more vulnerable towards committing crimes for a small amount of money to afford drugs. 
• It is considered to be the originator of petty offences as well as heinous crimes like smuggling of arms and ammunition and money laundering.
• Threat to the nation as it involves usage and generation of black money.

Regions of India are the worst affected:

Several drug-related crimes under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been on a rise. Of the total cases, more than half of them are contributed by states like Punjab, Maharashtra, Assam, Delhi, Haryana, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.

Measures can be taken to address drug abuse:

• Secured Border: Increased security on border areas and fencing to ensure that drugs don’t enter India. 
• International Collaboration: Need to effectively use SAARC and ASEAN platform for joint coordinated action against drugs trafficking.
• Govt. Vigilantism: The Anti-Narcotic Squads and Drug Enforcement Agencies should be more vigilant in controlling drug trafficking.
• Legal Measures: The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, should be enacted with stringent provisions to curb this menace. However, effective implementation and time-bound judicial process are the need of the hour.
• Awareness Campaigns: Anti-drug consumption campaign could be launched. NCB in collaboration with state agencies and concerned ministries should organize awareness campaigns.
• Role of Media: Mass media should play an important role in spreading awareness about the menace of drug abuse and not glorifying drug abuse.
• Role of NGOs: Govt. should fund more NGOs to work in this field. 
• De-addiction centres: Make necessary and sufficient counselling and rehabilitation centres with required resources and trained health workers. 

Conclusion: 

The impact of drug abuse is huge on the youth and it will also impact national security. So the government should work in tandem with the civil society to tame the menace of drug network in India and to save the future of young India.