DRUGS - CRIME PROMOTER

Most of the crimes in the world are instigated by drugs. Crimes like murder, rape, violence against women etc are mostly committed by drug abusers. Use of drug directly and indirectly kill around 12 million people every year. Over 35 million people all over the world are suffering from drug disorders. An estimated number of over 270 million people are using drugs. Cocaine alone around 2,000 tonnes are sold in different countries in one year.  Next to petroleum and arms, drugs is the largest business in the world with an estimated annual turnover of 500 million dollars. Drug users in India is also growing every year. Drug abuse is directly involved in crime and violence. It is a complex phenomenon having social, cultural, historical, economical, biological and geographical impacts.

Drugs remove inhibition and impair judgement and persuade one to commit offences. Apart from affecting the financial stability, addiction increases conflicts and causes untold emotional pain for every member of the family. Studies show that narcotic addicts are involved in frequent criminal behaviour on daily basis and that, consequently, some of them commit thousands of offences per individual during their addiction careers. Most offences are serious and destructive in nature. In order to fulfill their monetory needs they do crimes like shop lifting, burglary, stealing on the job etc. Few decades ago prostitution had been a source of income for female addicts. Studies have also revealed that majority of the most violent were heroin users with high cost heroin habits. The relationship between drugs and crime is complex. The crime can be committed to buy, use, possess, manufature or distribute illegal drugs.

According to a report jointly published by the UN Office and the Ministry of Social Justice, Government of India 8.75 million people use cannabis, 2 million use opiates and 0.6 million people use sedative or hyponotics. 17 to 26% of these people can be classified as dependent users who need urgent treatment. Approximately 26 million people in India used or use opioids an 6 million of them suffer from opioid disorders. 4.6 lakh children and 18 lakhs adults need help as a result of inhalant use. 8.5 lakh people inject drug into the body and addicted. UP, Punjab and Delhi are top in the list. Most common drugs injected are Heroin (48%) and Buprenorphine (46%). 27% of the inject share their needles which can cause HIV.

The youth of our nation have a massive responsibility as they will eventually determine the country's moral, political and social persuasions. Bearing the burden of a densely populated country like India is not a small task. The entire society including the educational institutions, religious organisations, law enforcement agencies, the legal establishments as a whole, political parties of all brands and the successive governments must put all out efforts to convert today's youth into responsible, moral and efficient citizens of tomorrow to drive our country towards more and more glory.

KV George

kvgeorgein@gmail.com