New policy soon to stop drug abuse

NEW DELHI - Against the backdrop of a UN report stating that drug use is shifting towards new substances and new markets, the Indian government is contemplating a national policy on prevention of alcoholism and substance abuse.

“The need for creating awareness generation about the dangers of drug abuse needs to be taken up on a strictly time bound manner,” Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik said Saturday.

Addressing a function on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Wasnik called for higher involvement of grassroot organisations like panchayats and local administration in spreading awareness against use of drugs and rehabilitation for addicts.

The World Drug Report 2010 published by United Nations shows that Afghanistan continues to account for 90 percent of the world’s illicit opium and heroin production, and its neighbours for 60 percent of the global consumption.

“There are signs of an increase in drug use in developing countries and growing abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants and prescription drugs around the world,” the report says.

According to the report amongst the developing countries which consume the bulk of the drugs — the areas where these drugs are targeted are often neglected areas, areas where the rule of law is weak. Those are the areas that need to be brought back into the mainstream, the report said.

In India, drugs abuse is highest in northeastern states and Punjab.

“Punjab and northeastern states being the frontiers, suffer most from drug abuse,” K.M. Acharya, secretary, ministry of social justice and empowerment said.

–Indo Asian News Service