Drug Abuse In India & World

Introduction:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ               

'Al Quran: 5.90'

It was hot summer afternoon and the date was June the 14th 2020, I had just come out of solarium giving classes of my high school children over zoom; solarium because it was there where Internet speed was good plus I looked dazzling over video conferences as afternoon sunrays reflected from my face. Next moment, an appaling news broke over the media about the death of one of my favourite film star, Sushant Singh Rajput, allegedly by sucide. They say it never rains but it pours and it holds true here as well. As if the Covid pandemic, 'a generational shock' for millennials like me was not enough, such tidings sent one further down the dumps.

What followed the death of 'SSR' was perpetuation of different conspiracy theories and subsequent media trial. The main scapegoat being his girlfriend 'Rhea Chakrabarty'. Although, by September 2020, She along with her brother were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau, charging that she and her brother had been supplying marijuana to Sushant Singh Rajput.

This all hadn't yet faded away from public memory, On 3rd October 2021, the son of a famous bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in connection with an alleged drug bust onboard a cruise ship named Cordelia, off the Mumbai  Coast. He was charged with possession, consumption and sale of illegal substances under sections of the NDPS Act.

However after comic drama, media buffoonery and ludicrous farce, his name was dropped from the chargesheet on May 27, 2022.

These two incidents bought skeltons out of the closet and lifted the lid over huge drug problem that hanged like the damocles sword over the nation.

So What is a Drug:

A Drug is simply a chemical compound, which when introduced into a body, produces certain Physiological effect. It ranges from simple over the counter medicine to a narcotic, from opiate or even a cup of cappuccino.

NIH defines drug as any substance that is used to prevent, diagnose, treat, or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition. Drugs can also affect how the brain and the rest of the body work and cause changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior.

Traditionally, the drugs have been obtained from medicinal Plants, although of lately they have been synthesized via chemical processes.

Fundamentally, Drugs can be classified into three types based upon the way in which they affect our bodies:

1. Depressants: They calm down the functioning  of the central nervous system which includes brain and spinal cord.

Depressants include Alcohol, Cannibis, Opioids.

2. Hallucinogens – They affect the sensation and modify the way perceives the world around him/her.

Hallucinogens include Cannibis, Ketamine, LSD.

3. Stimulants – They enhance the biochemical processes of the central nervous system.

Stimulants include Caffeine, Cocaine, Nicotine, MDMA.

What is Drug Abuse:

Drug abuse may be defined as habitual intake of illegal substances or beyond prescription use of medicines or even overuse of over the counter pill. It also includes Substance abuse and Alcoholism.

The examples of substance abuse include the use of:
i. Anabolic steroids,
ii. Club drugs,
iii.Cocaine,
iv. Heroine,
v.Inhalents,
vi.Marijuana etc.

The drug abuse is in itself the cause and effect of many problems in a society and family. Drug abuse leads to voilence, crimes, destruction of families and public disorder.

What is Drug Addiction:

Addiction is defined as neuropsychological disorder characterized by intense urge to seek drugs with difficulty to control ones self.

Addiction is characterized by compulsive use of drugs. The initial decision to use drugs is voluntary however the repeated use causes certain changes in the brain network which affects self control.

Although actual biochemical process behind the addiction is the domian of Biomedical research and beyond the scope of this blog, however it is generally understood that addiction occurs due to the tampering of reward circuit inside the brain. This causes Euphoria, while flooding the brain with certain neurotransmitters like dopamine, which causes pleasure.

As a person consumes certain quantam of drugs, the brain gradually adopts to it. Hence, one needs to hike the quota of drugs to create similar pleasure.

In the meantime, a certain person becomes so addicted to drugs that if he/she doesn't consume or increase dosage of drugs, it leads to withdrawal symptoms.

The withdrawal symptoms include:
i. Anxiety,
ii. Fatigue,
iii. Sweating,
iv. Vomiting,
v. Depression,
vi. Seizures,
vii. Pain,
viii. Irritability,
ix: Paranoia,
x. Nausea,
xi. Insomnia,
xii. Tremors etc.

Such symptoms are usually treatable by medications and therapy. However, the treatment ought to be regularly followed up due to the risk of relapse.

Over the period of time, drugs affects learning, judgement, decision making, behaviour and memory and general health.

Adolescence and risk of drug abuse:

Although, it is generally understood that there is no age threshold beyond which a person might not consume drugs but according to a study conducted by "Mindful Rejuvenation" in Kerala state of India, It was found that 80% of addicts in Ernakulum district were between the age group of 16 to 26.

Read here: Ernakulum study

There are many more studies conducted Pan India level and across the world which tend to suggest the same. But the fundamental question is why should it be so.

Adolescents generally undergo Psychological and hormonal changes which affect their body and mind. Such changes might lead to emotional turbulence, confusion, identity crisis, egotism and decision making issues.

The adolescents may seek drugs due to:
i. Peer pressure,
ii. Curiosity,
iii. Boredom,
iv. Rebellion,
v. Availability,
vi. Enjoyment,
vii. Stress,
viii. Low self esteem
ix. Painful experience.

Thus, utmost guard should be taken by Government, NGOs, civil society, families towards this age groups against becoming the victims of drug abuse.

Types of Drugs:

Theoretically speaking, any substance that causes euphoria and disrupts reward circuit of brain can be theoretically given nomenclature of a drug. However, substances that are abused generally fall into following catagories:

1. Alcohol: Alcohol is an organic compound, liquid at room temperature which when consumed is directly absorbed by small intestines.

The alcohol which people consume is also called Ethanol or Ethyl Alcohol with the formula C2H5OH.

The alcohol acts as a depressant, sedative and as anesthetic and comes in many forms such as Vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila, beer, wine, gin etc.

The alcohol causes nausea, dizziness, vomitting and hangover effects. It affects liver, brain and heart and potentially causes liver cancer.


2. Tobacco: Tobacco use is the consumption of fermented dry leaves of Nicotina tobaccum, Nicotina rustica.

Tobacco contains nicotine which acts as a stimulant. It also contains compounds like nitrosomethyne, polycyclic hydrocarbons, bezyprene and tar.

Tobacco causes constriction of blood vessels, jncrease in heart rate and blood pressure.

Depending upon the mode of use, whether it is chewed or smoked, it leads to mouth cancer and lung cancer.


3. Opiods: Opiods are pain relievers. They bind to opiod receptors in brain and gastro-intestinal tract.  Opiods causes pain relief, sedation, nausea, constipation.

Opiods are extracted from Opium/poppy plants. Examples of Opiods include Morphine, Heroin.

Opiods are taken either smoked orally  or Snorted or inhaled or injected intravenously or inserted via rectal passage.


4. Cannabinoids: Cannabinoids are extracted from trichomes of Cannabis plant. They act on the receptors of cells and repress the release of neurotransmitters in brain.

Examples of Cannabinoids include Marijuana, Hashish, Ganja  Charas etc.

Cannabinoids lead to drowsiness, hallucinations, lack of coordination, diseases and death.

5. Coca Alkaloids: Coca Alkaloids are formed by the chemical processing of the extractions of Coca Plant (Erythroxylem coca).

Example of Coca Alkaloids include Cocaine, a white powder which is snorted, inhaled or injected.

Coca Alkaloids cause nausea, insomnia, enlargement of pupil, diseases and death.

History of Drug Abuse:

The use of Drugs has been in vogue since the time when even history wasn't recorded and the use has been found in different communities across the geographic spectrum.

Early humans did discover that eating or chewing certain plants gave feeling of relaxation and peace while others produced feeling of increased energy and alertness. Thus, People used certian compounds to alter their state of mind since before there were written records.

Examples: 
Archaeological records indicate the drug use in ancient hominid species who lived about 200 million years ago.

By 10500 B.C, the inhabitants of Indonesia and Thailand commonly used betel nut as intoxicant.

Even 40,000 years ago, Australian aborigines used nicotine from different indigenous sources such as Pituri plant.

Fermented honey also called Mead has been known to humanity since  8000 B.C.

Opium was used by the ancient Sumerians, ancienct Switzerlanders and Greeks used to drink Poppy Juice. 

Alcohol too has a long history. It was found to be used by ancient Egypt in 3500 B.C, Palestinians in 400 B.C among others. The Cannabis and Opium was used in China in 3000 B.C.

In the new word of Americas, the tribes used a hallucinogen called "choba", made from beans of mimosa trees.  Native American tribes also used tobacco before being discovered by Columbus in 1492.

In relatively modern times, in 1850s certain places called as "Opium dens" popped up in America by chinese immigrants in America who arrived to work as labourers. Many forms of drugs were consumed at such places.

History of Drug Use in Indian Socio Cultural Context:

India has been called as the Pharmacy of the world which provides analgesics, antibiotics, vaccines, topical medications and many other medicinal drugs to the world.

We recently had a demonstration of it in the form of Vaccine Maitri, the humanitarian initiative undertaken by the Indian government to provide COVID-19 Vaccines to all over the world.

However the history of use of Psychoactive drugs in India has been long as well. Many different types of substances have been traditionally used by different socio-cultural groups of Indian societies.

E.g Use of Bhang, Ganja has been smoked with a clay pipe called "Chillum" in Rajasthan, Utter Pradesh, Haryana since ancient times. Ganja has been also taken by religious ascetics to enhance spiritual concentration.

Cannabis is also an important drug in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine. It was used orally as an analgesic and sedative. Even newly married couples often took a cannabis in form of “Majun” for its aphrodisiac properties. Besides that, labourers commonly used cannabis to relieve fatigue, particularly during the harvest season.
Even in some south Indian caste's such as Lambanis, the distribution of Ganja in marriage function has been a ritual.

Similarly, Opium use was prevalent in historically. "Charbauga", a blend of Opium, hemp and wine was being used in ancient times. The seeds of Poppy called "Posth" were used in beverages.

Current statistics of Drug abuse:

The drug menace has bought catastrophic consequences all around the world. The status of drug addiction stand as follows:

1. Drug abuse in World:
According to the UNDOC world drug report 2022, around 284 million people used drugs worldwide since 2020. It meant an increase of 26%  over the previous decade.

The report found that young people are using more drugs than with the previous generation.   

The report shockingly divulged that 5.5 million drug abusers were living with hepatitis C, 1.4 million were living with HIV, and 1.2 million were living with both.

The report blamed the legalization of Cannibis by USA as one of the many reasons for inrease in drug abuse.

The global production of Cocaine saw 11% jump since last decade and Opium saw grew 7% since 2020.

It was also found that in politically unstable states and conflict zones, the production and sale of drugs saw surge which ofcourse is quite understandable.

It was estimated by the report that women might form the 45% of end users of various drugs. It also bought to notice how women played important role in cultivation, transportation and sale of drugs.

Read Full report here: UNDOC Report

Various data from other sources also suggests that 12 million  people die in the world every year due to alcoholism and drug abuse. In USA alone, more than 140,000 people die every year due to Alcohol use. The socio-economical problems such people face might not be put into numbers and stats.

Read here: Our world in data 

Read here: Alcohol deaths in USA 

2. Drug addiction in India:

According to the report released by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment  named as “National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India” in 2019, the magnitude of substance abuse is flabbergasting.

According to the report in 2019, 16 crore people between the age of 10 and 75 years use Alcohol.
About 3.1 crore individuals use cannabis and 2 crore people use opiods in the age group of 10 to 75.

Highest number of cannabis users were found in Uttar Pradesh 20.8%, followed by Bihar 18.6%, Kerala 15.8%, West Bengal 7.4% and Maharashtra 7.0%.

The report also divulged that 1.25 crore people in India currently use sedatives for non medicinal purposes.

Besides these, Lakhs of people also used Inhalants, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Hallucinogens.

Read report here: Crux of MSJE report

In India, Govt data suggests 704 people died due to drug overdose in India in 2019, the number was 875 in 2018. However, according to Times of India report, 10000 sucides committed by people in india in 2021 were linked to drug abuse.

Read here: Govt report on Drug related deaths

Read here: TOI report

3. Drug addiction in Kashmir:
A study  conducted by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre at AIIMS  revealed that Jammu and Kashmir had 6 lakh drug abusers among the population of 1.30 crore. It was found that 90% of these drug addicts are in age group of 17-33 and the victims range from diffent socio-economical backgrounds.

It feels heartbreaking to write that in the valley of sages, the IMHANS reports 150 cases of drug addiction every day, among which 95% are heroin abusers.

As per the doctors there, there is a shift from medicinal opioids to hardcore drugs, mostly intravenous (IV) heroin.

Read full report here: Drug problem in valley

Fight against drug abuse at International and National level:

At the global level as well as national level, various bodies, legislations, policies and programmes have been formed against trafficking, use and abuse of drugs.


A. International bodies against drug trafficking:

1. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC): The UNDOC is a global body formed to stop the international illegal drug trafficking.

It helps its Member States in their efforts to halt drug trafficking and related crimes.

UNDOC publishes important UNODC Annual Report, and the World Drug Report annually.

It provides resources and expertise to the UN and member states to fight against drug trafficking.

2. World health Organization (WHO):
WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health, hygiene and diseases prevention and cure of UN.

It also works towards prevention of drug abuse and its treatment.

B. International treaties againt drug trade:

1. Single Convention on Narcotic drugs, 1961:
It is an international treaty that controls the cultivation, production, supply, trade and transport of  narcotic drugs and lays down a system of regulations for their medical uses.

This treaty led to establishment of  International Narcotics Control Board.


2. Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971:
The convention was adopted to limit the diversion and abuse of certain psychotropic substances, such as central nervous stimulants, sedative-hypnotics and hallucinogens.

The convention ensured limiting the use of such psychotropic substances to medical and scientific purposes and ensuring their availability for those purposes only.

3. The United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988:

 It is currently in force with 191 parties.

4. Transnational Convention Crime 2000:
It is the united nations facilitated multilateral agreement against transnational crimes including drug trafficking.

It came into force on 12 December 2000 and has 147 signatories.


India's Fight againt drug abuse:

A. Constitutional and Legal bodies:

1. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) :
The ministry is entrusted with the empowerment of the disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society. The target groups of the Ministry include Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Senior Citizens, Victims of Substance Abuse, Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Beggars, Transgender.

For the Victims of substance abuse, the ministry runs many programmes such as National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) and Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyaan.


2. Narcotics control bureau (NCB):
The Narcotics Control Bureau works under Ministry of Home Affairs. The NCB acts as the nodal agency on the matter of drug law enforcement in India.  It has also been acting as a coordinating entity between various narcotics and drug law enforcement agencies within the country and also as India’s nodal point with international agencies like UNODC, INCB etc.

3. Other legal bodies which govern drug abuse are Narcotics Control Division, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Bureau of Investigation, Customs Commission and state Police.


B. Indian Laws  against drug abuse and drug trafficking:

1. Poison Act of 1919: Although quashed in 1960, it regulated selling of poisons.

2. Drug and Cosmetic act of 1940: Last amended in 2008, this act penalizes selling of counterfeit medications, adultered drug and cosmetics.

3. The drugs and cosmetics rule of 1945: It led to creation of central drug laboratory and state drug laboratories for drug testing.

According to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, drugs are divided into the the Schedules such as C, C1, E, D1, G, H, L, J, O, S, X.

4. The Pharmacy Act of 1948: It regulated the profession of pharmacy and led to formation of pharmacy council of India.

5. The Drug and Magical Remedies Act of 1954: This act controlled the advertisement of drugs in India.

6. The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act of 1985: This act was formed against the narcotic drugs and put strict measures against its use.

The legislation makes it illegal to produce, manufacture, cultivate, own, sell, transfer, purchase, or consume any Narcotic Substance.

By the amendment of this act in 1989, the Govt established special courts for such cases.

The punishment ranges from 6 months to rigorous imprisonment of 20 years or even death sentence in certain rearest of rare cases.

7. Last but not least, the various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860 and Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973: It provides base for the substantive law to be followed in case a crime has been committed and procedures to be followed during investigation.

C. Policies and Programmes:

1. National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR):
Under this scheme, Financial assistance is provided to:-

i. State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations for  Education, Awareness, Capacity building, skill development, vocational training and livelihood support of ex-drug addicts.

ii. For Programmes for Drug Demand Reduction by States/UTs etc.

iii.  NGOs for running and maintenance of Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (lRCAs), Community based peer Led lntervention (CPLI) for early Drug Use Prevention among Adolescents and Outreach and Drop In Centres (ODIC) ,

iv.  District De-Addiction Centres(DDACs) and for Addiction treatment facilities (ATFs) in Government Hospitals.

2. Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA):
NMBA was launched by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 272 most vulnerable districts since August 2020. As per PIB webpage, following activities have been conducted under Nasha Mukht Bharat Abiyaan

"i. As part of the Abhiyaan, special emphasis is laid on the participation of stakeholders such as women, children, educational institutions, civil society organizations etc. who may be directly or indirectly affected by substance use.

ii. 8,000 Master Volunteers have been selected and trained to lead the Abhiyaan activities in the 272 identified districts.

iii. Through the various activities undertaken on-ground 11.99+ Crore people reached out .

iv. Around 4,000+ Yuva Mandals, NYKS & NSS Volunteers, Youth Clubs have also been associated with the Abhiyaan.

v. The contribution of 2.05+ crore women have also been vital in reaching out to a larger community through the Anganwadi & ASHA Workers, ANMs, Mahila Mandals & Women SHGs.

vi. Across the country, 1.19+ lakh educational institutions have conducted activities with students & youth to educate them on substance use under the Abhiyaan.

vii. Social media has effectively been utilized to spread the message of the Abhiyaan online by creating handles on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram and sharing daily updates on them.

viii. An Android based mobile Application has been developed to capture the data of activities happening on ground on a real-time basis by the districts and master volunteers. This App has been placed on the Google Play Store."

D. NGOs:

 Besides the Govt, there are umpteem number of Non Governmental organizations (NGOs) which work in tandem with Govt against drug trafficking, drug counselling, treatment,  policy implementation and support.

Conclusion:

I would love to conclude the write up with the meaning of the verse of Quran which I quoted at top.

It says, "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, sacrificing on stone alters, and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful"
                       

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