Pubdate: Mon, 12 Sep 2005
Source: Greater Kashmir (India)
Copyright: 2005 GreaterKashmir.com GK Communications Pvt. Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.greaterkashmir.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3731

DRUG ABUSE

With the government having failed to tackle the growing drug menace, the 
parents have a reason to worry.

If the aggrieved parents accuse the police of having a truck with the drug 
traffickers they are justified.

Till date no tangible action has been taken against the elements who have 
been selling "sweet poison" openly in the every nook and corner of the 
Valley especially in the urban areas.

Abuse of drugs has become a way of life in the Valley especially in the 
urban areas.

Dalgate, Lal Chowk, Habba Kadal, Batmaloo have become a safe haven for the 
peddlers and the addicts in the city. In major towns like Varmul, Sopur, 
Islamabad the menace is fast spreading its deadly tentacles.

The youth take drugs for a variety of reasons ranging from unemployment to 
failure in a love affair.

The drugs take them in a make believe world and offer the much needed 
solace rather detachment to them for some time. Time and again the matter 
was brought to the notice of the authorities but to no avail forcing the 
aggrieved parents to believe that the law enforcing agencies are in truck 
with the peddlers. The only tangible measure to fight the menace has come 
from the drug authorities. The concerned department issued a direction to 
the chemists and druggists and classified some drugs.

The chemist is supposed to retain a xerox copy of the prescription seeking 
the classified drugs.

The chemists were further told not to sell drugs in retail without the 
prescription of a registered medical practitioner. But unfortunately the 
order is followed more in breach.

The drugs classified by the drug authorities are being sold in the black 
market and the chemists have been making a big fortune.

Last year the drug authorities launched a massive campaign against 
unauthorized and unlicensed chemists and druggists.

Even some shops were closed down much to the relief of the common people.

But for unknown reasons the campaign was abandoned.

The government has many 'important' problems to address and cannot, 
therefore, launch a massive campaign against drug addiction. The people 
cannot and should not wait for the lethargic government to act. The onus 
shifts to the teachers, parents and the society in general.

Any abnormal behavior like absence from the schools, dark circles beneath 
the eyes, paleness, uneasiness etc must be taken note of by the parents and 
the teachers.

The parents must search the pockets of their wards and visit their 
schools/colleges very often.

The parents and the teachers must know that the misadventure starts with 
use of codeine drugs or medicines rich in alcohol.

Some addicts take boot polish as well. Anti-depressants, hypnotic tablets 
are also consumed in abundance.

Hundreds of youth in the age group of 17-25 have been abusing drugs and 
their veins. The unfortunate trend is gaining momentum with every passing 
day. After prolonged use a particular drug does not go to the head of the 
addict.

This is the time when the addicts tread a dangerous path. Cannabis (charas) 
and then Brown Sugar. This is the beginning of the end of an addict.

The addict gets crippled and usually this is when the parents of an addict 
come to know about his addiction.

The misadventure ends with the death of the victim if he is not detoxified 
in a rehabilitation centre.

Unfortunately there is only one rehabilitation centre in the valley but it 
operates during the day only. And with no arrangement for detoxification in 
the government hospitals available, the hapless parents find themselves in 
a very difficult situation.

Their helplessness can be gauged from the fact that some Some aggrieved 
parents have approached the lawyers with the request of getting their 
addict wards jailed.

Something has to be done in this regard.

The sooner this dawns on the parents, teachers and the authorities the better.

There must be a special and fully equipped ward for the addicts in every 
district hospital so that the menace is fought effectively.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom