Sir,
This refers to the editorial’Check unbridled use of Opioids’ (DE, Mar21, 2019). It is shocking to read that as per a report, consumption of Opioids in Jammu and Kashmir is more in comparison to alcohol and sharp rise has been noticed in the use of sedatives particularly by the youngsters. The fact that as per the latest survey conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in collaboration with National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) of AIIMS, New Delhi, 3.5% of the population between the age group of 10 to 75 years is consuming alcohol while 4.91% of population of this group is consuming Opioids such as Poppy Husk, Heroin and pharmaceutical opioids.
These opioids have taken a toll of so many precious lives.What is worrisome is that a large number of people are taking sedatives and injecting drugs too. This alarming situation definitely calls for a new strategy to deal with the situation. The authorities entrusted with the task of checking drug abuse among people, especially the youth,need to be proactive against drug peddlers and keep a close vigilance on the drug traffickers. Though the police claims to arrest many drug peddlers as per newspaper reports, this menace is spreading its deadly tentacles with each passing day. There is need to adopt multipronged strategy to deal with the situation. Drug peddlers need to be given exemplary punishment so that they don’t indulge themselves in this trade and spoil the future of our youth. At the same time,awareness camps and counselling sessions need to be organised at school, block, tehsil and District levels to enlighten the parents and the youth about the ill effects of drug addiction.
More drug deaddiction centres need to be set up to deal with the alarming situation. Parents need to spend more time with their children to understand their problems and issues, especially in the adolescent age. The teachers too need to play a significant role in preventing the students from adopting the suicidal path of taking to drugs. The schools ought to provide a congenial atmosphere to the students for their holistic development. Seminars, debates, frequent discussions between parents and teachers about the behaviour of the children can also help in preventing the youth from falling a prey to the menace of drug addiction. There should be sufficient number of playgrounds to provide opportunities to the youth to utilize their surplus energy in games and sports rather than in pursuing harmful activities.
Ashok Sharma
Housing Colony, Udhampur
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