Dr Manmeet Singh
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2021 is on Saturday, 26 June 2021. This day is celebrated to spread awareness against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which are important issues of current times, to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving the goal of a world free of drug abuse.
“Share facts on drugs, save lives” is the theme of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2021. This theme stresses on the importance and interconnectedness of drug facts and safe lives for each other. It is the important responsibility of national and international leadership to provide opportunities for safe life to every citizen. They should also put the drug producers behind bars along with their aides.
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Drug Abuse Meanings
Drug abuse means the use or consumption of drugs like Marijuana, Alcohol, Cocaine, Opioids, etc. Alcohol is the most abused drug in the world perhaps because its consumption is allowed by many countries. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) claims that around 200 million people around the world are drug addicts.
Illicit Trafficking Meanings
Illicit Trafficking refers to the smuggling or trafficking of drugs, small arms, explosives, and light weapons. Such drugs and arms are trafficked all over the world however some regions which are afflicted by violence, armed conflicts, and organized crime are more vulnerable to the Illicit Trafficking of arms and drugs.
History of International Day against Drug Abuse
Almost every literate person is aware of the disadvantages of drugs these days, but the use of drugs is not getting low. Millions of people around the world are in depression due to drug abuse, but they are unable to quit consuming drugs. Recognizing its catastrophic consequences, the UNGA adopted resolution 42/122 in 1987 and designated an International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Later on, the last decade of the 20th century was signalled as “United Nations Decade Against Drug Abuse”.
Consequences of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
The ramifications of drug abuse extend far beyond the individual drug abuser, because the health and social consequences of drug abuse – HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome), Hepatitis C Virus infection, violence, tuberculosis, fetal effects, crime, and disruptions in family, workplace, and educational environments have devastating impacts on society and exact a cost of billions of dollars annually.
Drug abuse is often the result of a constellation of factors including socioeconomic status, educational achievement, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, access to health care, employment status, and numerous other factors present in the lives of drug-abusing individuals. Heroin and cocaine continue to be the illicit drugs that have the most socio-economic impact worldwide, in terms of morbidity, mortality and treatment needs for illicit drug use, as well as in monetary terms. Illicit trafficking in cocaine and heroin accounts for the bulk of the global illicit drug trade in monetary terms. The International Narcotics Control Board therefore has reviewed the impact of illicit opium poppy and coca bush cultivation, as well as trafficking in and abuse of heroin and cocaine, on overall economic development.
Regardless of the factors, it is the ultimate goal of the nation’s investment in drug abuse research to take more effective measures to prevent drug abuse and to reduce its associated costs and consequences.
Ways to Prevent Drug Abuse:
Don’t Give In To Peer Pressure- Some people, particularly teenagers and young adults, experiment with drugs just to portray a cool image in front of others. Not giving into peer pressure can and will prevent drug addiction
Develop close family ties – Research indicates that people who share a close relationship with their families are less likely to become drug addicts.
Learn coping mechanisms- Many people abuse drugs and alcohol in order to numb negative feelings. To prevent abusing drugs for this reason, it is important to learn healthy coping mechanisms.
Abstinence – Abstinence is the best way to prevent drug abuse or addiction. Completely abstaining from drug use can take a lot of skill and willpower.
Education – Knowledge is power, which is a true statement regarding drug use. Knowing about the risks, health and legal consequences, and other information about drug use will provide many people with a stronger reason for avoiding drugs.
Live A Healthy Well Balanced Life- Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is another way of preventing drug and alcohol addiction.
Take Time For Yourself – Modern life is filled with stress, which can increase a person’s risk of abusing drugs, or developing a drug addiction . People can prevent some of these triggers by taking optimum time to relax, and take care of themselves.
Employ Mindfulness Activities – Mindfulness activities such as yoga and meditation have been shown to help manage negative emotions, reduce anxiety and stress, and improve a person’s overall health and wellbeing.
Only Use Prescribed Medication- Whether they remain on the prescription or turn to illegal drugs, prescription drug addiction is becoming a problem that can be solved by developing a healthy management system, using it only when necessary, and only as prescribed
Get Professional Help- One of the best ways to prevent drug use is to seek help for mental illness or behavioral health problems.
Involvement of Law enforcement agencies- like Police and Narcotics Control Bureau in preventing illicit drug trafficking.
(The author is Associate Professor, Postgraduate Department of Psychiatry, ASCOMS, Jammu)
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