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Monday | 7 October 2024 | Epaper
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Rising drug addiction throws our youths into jeopardy 

Published : Monday, 7 October, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 100
Jubair Hossain
Drug addiction creates an alarming problem in Bangladesh. Its exponential growth becomes more and more destructive day by day. A large number of the youth in Bangladesh are becoming addicted to it. The infestation is present in any area of the country.

The Department of Narcotics Control of Bangladesh reports a significant rise in drug addiction within the country. 2023 114 patients were treated daily, compared to 104 in 2022 and 69 in 2020. In Bangladesh, there are 2.5 million people who suffer from drug addiction, with young people between the ages of 15 and 30 making up 80% of the population. Consequently, there is a growing prevalence of substance usage in Bangladesh, with the issue being particularly alarming among adolescents.

In the past year,the authorities of Khulna University suspended its four students for three semesters in charge of taking drugs on the campus. In 2021,Hafizur Rahman, a Department of Information Science and Library Management student at Dhaka University, was a mime artist. According to DB officials, the young man was on LSD and killed himself while tripping. In 2016, The authorities of Jahangirnagar University (JU) suspended two students of the university on charge of taking drugs on the campus. On the other hand, a study investigated drug addiction among undergraduate students of private universities in Bangladesh, focusing on causes, types of drugs, and treatment attitudes. One hundred sixty participants aged 15-25 were selected using purposive sampling. Results showed that friends influenced 38.75% of the population, while 31.88% tried new things. The highest number of respondents were taking ganja, and 86.87% were aware of the treatment. Despite treatment, 41.93% returned to drugs after treatment. It is the present situation of young students.

According to Arup Ratan Chaudhury, the head of the Affiliation for the Avoidance of Medicate Mishandle (MANAS), an estimated 2.5 million youngsters are drug addicts in Bangladesh. Street children, estimated to total 3.4 million, are primary targets of drug traffickers. The Bangladesh Children's Rights Gathering (BSAF) has assessed that 85 percent of street children in the country are suffering from substance abuse. The Dhaka-based nongovernmental organization reported that 19 percent of these minors use heroin, 28 percent use pills, and 8 percent inject drugs. The BSAF said that cannabis, heroin, stimulants, sedatives, inhalants, and gasoline sniffing are joint among minors in Bangladesh. According to the Division of Opiates Control, children aged 8 to 10 were consuming cannabis, cigarettes, and inhalants, while adolescents aged 12 to 18 were using phenyl, a chemical contained in commonly used cough syrups, and heroin. It was reported that Yaba tablets are widely recognized among middle- or upper-middle-class children.

With approximately 77 percent of substance abusers being young individuals aged between 16 and 35 and roughly 20 percent of current drug addicts in Bangladesh being women, the role of the government is of paramount importance. There is a significant deficiency of medical treatment and recovery centers in Dhaka, a problem several nongovernmental organizations have tried to address. However, they all stress the need for the government to take additional measures to tackle this significant socioeconomic issue. Nabila Tarannum Khan, chief consultant and clinical psychologist at the Cabin, a Thailand-based organization focused on the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, has urged the government to initiate a comprehensive campaign involving public and private entities, educational institutions, and civil society. Sultana Jannat Shikha of the Bidyanondo Foundation, which focuses on the education of street children, has highlighted the government's hesitance to protect these youngsters from drug misuse.

Stimulant drugs are the most prevalent substances utilized in Bangladesh. These young people are uninformed regarding narcotics. Some individuals are unable to distinguish between stimulants and marijuana. Initially, they administered the medications by incorporating them into beverages. They are unaware of which substances are hazardous. Teenagers can quickly obtain drugs. They may procure them from acquaintances who do not perceive selling as unethical, or they may acquire them from foreigners. They purchase substances known as "Speed, tiger, yaba," believing them to be beverages or tablets that enhance alertness for studying and cognitive function without recognizing the associated dangers. They fail to comprehend that it is challenging. A more significant percentage of youth are utilizing narcotics.

The prevalence of cannabis in Bangladesh exceeds that of all other substances. The majority of the nation's cannabis is trafficked through the eastern border regions of Cumilla and Brahmanbaria, primarily destined for Dhaka. The prevalence of Buprenorphine is somewhat lower than that of cannabis, Phensedyl, heroin, and alcohol. This highlights the urgent need for comprehensive awareness campaigns to educate the youth about the dangers of drug use.

Anti-narcotics operations are constantly going on in Bangladesh; drug dealers are being arrested in every operation, but the supply of drugs cannot be controlled. There are some reasons behind this. The government is officially trying to stop drug supply, but some crooked political leaders are secretly helping drug trafficking.Through syndicates, dishonest political figures manage the supply and sales of drugs. Women and street children are the primary targets used to carry out this illicit business. The eradication of drugs is significantly impeded by border smuggling. Massive drug smuggling occurs over the Myanmar, Teknaf, and Comilla borders.

However, the authorities have to eradicate this syndicate. Bangladesh now has an interim administration. This supply will decrease exclusively if the existing drug supply syndicates are destroyed and no new syndicates are created. Drug supply reduction will occur alone if border areas are maintained under stringent surveillance and security measures.

The writer is an LL.B. Student, Department of Law, World University of Bangladesh



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