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. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart