In News:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Centre was effectively pursuing a decisive war against the drugs menace.
• He made those remarks while addressing the National Conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ in Chandigarh.

What’s in Today’s Article:

• Drug menace in India
• News Summary

Drug menace in India: Statistics

• India is caught in the vicious circle of drug abuse, and the numbers of drug addicts are increasing day by day.
• According to the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India in 2019, about 2.1% of the country’s population (2.26 crore individuals) uses opioids.
• This survey also showed that about 2.8% of Indians aged 10-75 years (3.1 crore individuals) were using cannabis as bhang, ganja and charas.

Reasons for Widespread Drug Abuse in India

• To escape from hard realities of life –
  • The disintegration of the joint family system, decline of religious and moral values etc. lead to a rise in the number of drug addicts
• Loosening of the traditional methods of social control
  • Makes an individual vulnerable to the stresses and strains of modern life.
• Peers pressure
  • Many youths start using drug under the pressure from their friends, seniors at educational institutions, or by members of their informal groupings.
• Easy Availability
  • India is situated in the sense that on its west is the ‘Golden Crescent’ and on east is the ‘Golden Triangle’.
    • Golden Crescent - Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan
    • Golden Triangle - Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar
  • The usage of drugs in India is increasing, particularly in the border areas due to their porous nature.
• Economic prosperity
  • The agricultural reforms and other industrial activity have led to increase in income in regions like Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra etc. which has led to increase in its use.

Steps taken

• Article 47 of the Indian Constitution directs the State to endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption of intoxicating drugs injurious to health.
• India is a signatory to
  • The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol,
  • the Conventions on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and
  • The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.
• Legislative steps:
  • Enacted Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988.
• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) was created in 1986 as a nodal agency to fight against this menace.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) are involved with alcohol and drug demand reduction policies and drug de-addiction programme.

News Summary

• Union home minister Amit Shah participated in the National Conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ held in Chandigarh.
• The conference was aimed at formulating strategies to root out drug abuse from the northern States.

Key highlights of the speech

• Drugs seized during 2014-21
  • The minister pointed out that the 3 lakh kilograms of drugs worth ₹20,000 crores were seized in the country between 2014 and 2021.
• Permanent inter-ministerial committee to prevent misuse of dual-use drugs
  • The minister said that in order to prevent misuse of dual-use drugs, a permanent inter-ministerial committee has been formed with the ministry of health and family welfare and the ministry of chemicals.
• New initiatives to fight against drugs’
  • The minister launched the NCORD portal on the occasion.
    • During the 3rd apex level NCORD meeting, held in December 2021, Union Home Minister directed the creation of an integrated NCORD portal at the central level.
      • The Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism was set up by the MHA in the year 2016 for effective drug law enforcement.
  • The portal acts as an effective mechanism for information exchange between various institutions/agencies.
  • NCORD portal helps not only in coordination but also in knowledge management.
• Future initiatives
  • The ministry of home affairs is working on a three-tier formula:
    • strengthening the institutional structure,
    • empowerment and coordination of all narco agencies,
    • comprehensive awareness campaigns and de-addiction.
  • The NCB is working to launch a helpline soon.
  • The minister also said that for speedy trial of drug cases the constitution of fast-track courts and exclusive courts is being discussed with the Supreme Court.