Myths about Drug use and ways
to respond
to Drug
abuse
Answers
Answer:
The drugs may vary from prescribed medications, to narcotic drugs such as cocaine, hashish, heroin etc. The use of these substances produces a craving or a physical addiction, which leads to regular intake of these drugs and is called ‘Drug Addiction’. In severe cases the drug addict can neither lead a normal life nor survive without these drugs.
Kate Winslet once said “I’m afraid that I’m not a very good example. I smoke.” Drug addiction or drug abuse is a widespread and critical problem not only for the Western countries today, but has emerged as one of the major point concerns for Indian society as well. India, today, has not only become a key transit of drugs, but also a large consumption centre.
According to official figures, India has about 7.5 crore drug addicts and the number is going up significantly, especially in semi-urban and backward areas. The monthly drug sales in India varies between ₹ 100 crore to ₹ 125 crore. The use of illicit and prohibited drugs today is not just confined to street urchins and lower classes, but is fast spreading to middle and upper class youths of the society.
Drugs are of various kinds such as alcohol, sedatives, stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens and nicotine. Sedatives relax the nervous system which if given under medical supervision is used for curative purposes, but can be misused by addicts. On the contrary, stimulants activate the nervous system. Caffeine and cocaine, popularly called ‘pep-pills’ fall under this category.
Narcotic drugs are psychotropic products which produce feelings of pleasure, strength, superiority, reduce hunger and lessen inhibitions. Opium, Marijuana, heroin (smack), morphine, pethidine, cocaine and cannabis such as charas, ganja and bhang are all narcotics. They are either smoked, sniffed or injected. Hallucinogens, as the name suggests, produce distortion of perception, example LSDs. Cigarettes, bidis, cigars, snuffs, tobacco etc and Nicotine, the frequent use of which can cause heart attack, lung cancer or bronchitis.
The most vulnerable part of the society are the adolescents the students in high schools and colleges. In order to merely try new and adventurous things or under peer pressure or many a times imitating the actions of their favourite celebrities children get caught into the vicious cycle of drug intake unknowingly and innocently. Gradually, they become habitual, and what had initially started off as fun and adventure becomes their need and compulsion. The addiction becomes chronic because the adventurer starts hiding it due to parental fear and social stigma. Thus, the addict struggles all alone even if he/she wants to break free, thus fails in all his/her attempts.
To curb this menace, India has braced itself to face drug trafficking through innovative changes in laws and their enforcement. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, with stringent provisions to curb this menace, envisages a minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment extendable to 20 years and a fine of ₹ 1 lakh extendable to ₹ 2 lakh for the offenders.
Explanation: