NARCOTICS AND DRUGS PROBLEMS IN INDIA BY - INDIRA PRIYADARSHINI
NARCOTICS AND DRUGS PROBLEMS IN
INDIA
AUTHORED BY - INDIRA PRIYADARSHINI
Abstract
The narcotics and drug problems in
India present a complex challenged. It’s a serious issue and it encircle issues
related to consumption, trafficking, production and their negative effects on
health and public society. India helping both transit destinations point for
drug trade and faced concerns such as cultivations of illicit drugs. The misuse
of drugs prescriptions by the youth populations and abusive contribute to
health entailment including infectious disease.
The economic and social impact of
drugs in India is increasing day by day and manifesting in a broken families
and it’s increasing the crime rates and the economics burden on the health care
system this also impacting on the psychological behaviour which leads to the
mental health problem.
Key words:
Narcotics, illicit drugs, drugs addiction, mental health, public health,
rehabilitation, prevention, intervention, law enforcement, abuse, socioeconomic
disparities.
Background
The country has developed an
addictions problem in 1994 international narcotics control strategy reports
says is affecting middle class and urban population in greater numbers. It also
has an ancient tradition of drugs using in a daily activity and ceremonial
rituals trafficking of illicit substances it is adding the easy availability of
pharmaceutically drugs without proper rise of substance misuse.
Healthwise there is a prevalence and
infectious disease and mental health disorders. Government has implemented
various measures to address narcotics and drugs problems law enforcement agency
or all working to the trafficking of the illicit and rehabilitation issues.
Alcohol, cannabis, and heroin are the major drugs misused in India, the report
says Buprenorphine, propoxyphene, and heroin are the most injected drugs.
Population is just over a billion, 62.5 million people use alcohol, 8.75
million use cannabis. The potential number of people seeking treatment—about
0.5 million opiate users, 2.3 million cannabis users, and 10.5 million alcohol
users—is a serious challenge for India at present, said Mr Lewis.
Introduction
India is a diverse and popular
country and faces lots of challenges in issues of narcotics and drug abuse.
This problem has grown over the years and posing threat to public health and
social wellbeing the narcotics and drugs problem in India merged the combination
of economically, socially, and political factors.
Social and economic factor:
High levels of poverty, unemployment
and lack of educations may create an environment contributory to drugs abuse
this leads to a problem with limited access to healthcare and rehabilitation
service.
Youth vulnerability:
India has a large youth population
and vulnerability of drugs abuse is a significant concern factors as peer
pressure unemployment and desire to escape individuals to the narcotics and
drug addiction.
Public health impact:
A lot of people are impacting through
health problems like liver damaging and drug abuse has implications for public
health leading to spread disease like HIV aids and hepatitis C because drugs
and alcohol use can harm the health of a person with the HIV by weakening the
immune system and damaging the liver and this leads to the public health
impact.
International collaboration:
Nature of the drug table and the
international collaboration is crucial now and India is engaging more with the
neighbour countries and international organization to address the issues.
Organized crime and terrorism:
Drug trafficking is a major source of
revenue for organised crime groups and many of them are involved in a serious
crime such as firearms and modern slavery.
The most important types of illicit
trades are.
1.smuggling
2. the illegal drug trade
3.counterfeiting, human trafficking
4.the illicit tobacco trade
5.arms trafficking.
Links with the organized or terrorism
the sharing of financial resources. Criminal organizations often provide.
Funding to terrorist groups through activities such as drug trafficking, arms
smuggling, human trafficking, and extortion.
The NDPS Act was passed by the
Parliament of India. The Narcotics Control Bureau was established in March 1986
under the NDPS Act. The primary objective of the NDPS Act is to regulate and
control operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and
to conflict their abuse and illegal trafficking.
The punishment under the NDPS
act,1986 can range from rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than ten
years, extendable to twenty years and a fine not less than one lakh rupees,
extendable to two lakh rupees, to the death penalty in certain circumstances.
Offences under commercial quantities
are non-bailable NDPS Act 1985. However, if the court finds that the accused is
not guilty of offence or is not likely to indulge in sale/ purchase of narcotic
drugs, bail can be granted.
The international obligations legislation with
India's international obligations, especially the United Nations Single
Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and the Convention on Psychotropic
Substances, 1971. The NDPS Act, 1985, reflects the commitment of the Indian
government to combat the drug abuse and trafficking, and it plays a crucial
role in regulating and controlling the production, manufacturing, and trade of
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the country.
Case law:
Mandakini Jaiswal v. Union of India (2018):
In this case, the Supreme Court of
India reiterated the stringent nature of drug-related offenses under the NDPS
Act. The court highlighted the need for strict enforcement of the law to combat
the menace of drug abuse.
One of such case in the narcotics and
drugs matter is “Operation Tiger Claw” where a joint operation was conducted
between multiple agencies which led to arrest and conviction of high-profile
drug traffickers. The operation uncovered a vast networking spanning several
countries and resulted in the seizure of a significant quantity of narcotics
and drugs. Another case is “Nexus Pharmaceuticals Scandals”, which exposed the
dark underbelly of the pharmaceutical industry involved in the illicit
manufacturing and distribution of psychotropic substances. The prominent individuals,
including doctors, pharmacists, and pharmaceutical company executive.
Conclusion:
There are many acts related to
Narcotics and drugs, even punishment in Indian Penal Code 1860 which punish the
accused one for such act. But still there are many ways to sale or purchase
these drugs illegally. The government have taken such strict action against
such criminals and should find a way to stop this purchase and sale of drugs
and other narcotics substances.