Drugs in India                       

After the liquor ban in Bihar, the demand for ganja and heavier drugs has increased. Ganja is easily accessible, and more and more people are buying it. Colleges has become the another epicenter for illegal consumption of drug substitute.

It is interesting to note that the students who use drugs don’t think that it is harming them and the drugs are purchased by family members with symptoms of psychosis. Also the use of marijuana has increased only in the past few years among the students in both school and colleges, affecting their academic and psychosocial health. Most students try to justify their drug use by saying that consumption of drugs is legalized in several countries.

India is one of the major hubs of illicit drug. The latest report released by United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says that while the global trend of purchasing drugs over the internet, it is particularly rampant in India.

“The study identified more than 1,000 drug listings from India. In 2017, authorities in India dismantled two illicit Internet pharmacies, seizing close to 130,000. Fifteen people were arrested in the process,” the report compiled by International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) of UNODC states.

According to Dr Batra “No drug could be safe for students who are in their physical and mental growth phase. It affects their personality, growth, causes lack of concentration and impacts memory and knowledge retention ability,” .

Drugs in World

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade. It is observed annually on 26^th June, since 1989. This year’s theme “Health for Justice: Justice for Health” highlights that justice and health are two sides of the same coin when it comes to addressing drug problems.

According to WHO, in world about 3.3 millions deaths are caused every year due to harmful use of alcohol.  Some 31 million persons have drug use disorders. Almost 11 million people inject drugs, of which 1.3 million are living with HIV, 5.5 million with hepatitis C, and 1 million with both HIV and hepatitis C.

Tanya Trivedi

  drug abuse, health, India