Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 Source: The Daily Star (Bangladesh) Copyright: 2005 The Daily Star Contact: http://www.thedailystar.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3893 CHILDREN'S INVOLVEMENT IN DRUGS INCREASES ALARMINGLY Int'l Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking Today As a wholesaler of writing slate in old Dhaka, once he had sufficient income from his business, but now he has nothing. The business of Alamgir Hossain started ruining keeping pace with his growing level of addiction to heroin. For the last few years his wife and school-going son and daughter have been living as dependant of his elder brother. Alamgir, now 36 years old, started taking heroin at the age of 18. He has just recovered from addiction with 24 others after free treatment at Modhumita Treatment Centre of Dhaka Ahsania Mission (Dam). "Now I can realise how big loss I had incurred in last 18 years. I request all to keep themselves thousand miles away from drugs," said Alamgir while talking to The Daily Star at a seminar organised to observe the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking today. The Dam in collaboration with Family Health International (FHI) organised the seminar at its auditorium in the city yesterday. In a keynote paper former additional inspector general of police Shahidullah Khan said the drug abuse has become a global problem and human tragedy. "Growing drug abuse has invaded home, workplace and educational institutions affecting individuals of all ages and classes," he added. Shahidullah said although there is no exact figure, the total number of drug addicts in the country has been estimated at 2.5 million. Of them the most affected age group is 15-29, he added. Shahidullah said Bangladesh has become a transit as well as user country for its geographical location. Chaired by former inspector general of police Dr M Enamul Hoque, the seminar was addressed by Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, Deputy Director of FHI Tara Nichole O'Day, Deputy Director of Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) Abu Taleb, Programme Director of Aparajeyo Bangladesh Wahida Banu and Dam President and Chief Executive Kazi Rafiqul Alam. The speakers said involvement of children in drug abuse is increasing alarmingly. According to yearly report that the DNC submitted to the UN in 2002, among the all drug users in the country six percent were children. In 2003 this percentage increased to 13 and it remained the same in 2004. But in 2005, the percentage was again increased to 17.87. According to the reports, street children living at slums, bus and truck stands, railway stations and lunch terminals are most vulnerable to drug abuse. A good number of children in the age group of eight to 12 are widely used to sell drugs. The speakers said parents, teachers, community leaders can play a vital role to protect the children from drug abuse. They called for inclusion of articles on ill effects of drugs in school textbooks. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath