Pubdate: Sat, 26 Jun 2010
Source: Nagaland Post (India)
Website: http://www.nagalandpost.com/
Contact:  Circular Road, Dimapur - 797 112 Nagaland
Fax: +91-3862-225 366
Copyright: 2010 Nagaland Post (India)

BONDAGE OF ADDICTION

A lot has still to be achieved in order to make society more free 
from the dangers of drugs and observance of June 26 as International 
Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking should be a time to 
review how successful have various pledges and efforts been in 
reducing uses by all and sundry.

The day has been observed to spread awareness so as to alert the 
individual, family and by extension, the community about the terrible 
consequences of drug abuse. There are too many families who have lost 
a loved one or two because of drug addiction.

There are also many families who live in terrible ordeal caused by 
those who are controlled by drugs.

So many young people have passed away and many are perishing.

Most certainly, many will continue to come under control of drugs to 
cause pain, shame and grief to their families. Awareness on drug 
abuse has been on since the late 60s with the explosion of rock and 
roll and acid rock which spawn a culture of drugs and rebellious 
lifestyles for the young generation during those period. Marijuana, 
LSD, pot or brown sugar or whatever name; they were the 'in' of the 
60s and 70s.The rock and roll era popularized drugs with expressions 
of depressions amplified by the hallucinating tunes and music of rock 
superstars of those years such as Jim Morrison to Jimmy Hendrix to 
Led Zeppelin etc. Unfortunately, drugs, no matter under what plea or 
pleasure they symbolize always result in tragedy and not only to the 
individual but all those around.

There may be several factors which promote drug abuse but two which 
stand out may be identified as-easily availability and ineffective 
laws dealing with drug offences.

The cycle from drug addiction to peddling or trafficking becomes 
enlarged with every passing week, ensnaring more victims within its 
fold. Reports from various accounts widely reported in the media 
suggest that even pharmaceutical drugs sold under names such as 
spasmo, relipen, nitro diazepam and other drugs that cause 
hallucinations, are in huge demand among youth, some of who are 
barely in their teens. People must accept that their society and 
enforcement agencies cannot stymie the inflow of drugs for the simple 
reason that it is not a simple trade depending on the mood or ware. 
It had long been considered that addiction, defined as compulsive and 
pathological drug consumption, is behaviour specific to the human 
species and its social structure.

Research indicate that the voluntary consumption of drugs is a 
behaviour found in many species of animals.

Be it the simple explanation of supply-demand economics that makes 
sale of banned drugs a formidable illegal trade; another factor that 
needs to be made known is promotion through inducements. Whether the 
psychological aspects of a traumatized segment considered vulnerable 
or other factors acting as catalysts for drug addiction are factors, 
need to be analysed. Estimates of number of drug addicts vary and 
anyone's speculative guess may be as good as the other's but the 
number is growing and that is a terrible fact.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart