Pubdate: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 Source: Himalayan Times, The (Nepal) Copyright: 2011 The Himalayan Times Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/cvzLserF Website: http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5107 Author: Nirajan Pudasaini TACKLING DRUG ABUSE The use of drugs and drug-related items has been prohibited by the law. But this prohibition hasn't been able to eliminate use of drugs particularly among the youths. It has rather assisted the creation of a black market. Different chains of traffickers are active in supplying drug to the abusers. Today's commonly used illegal drug is marijuana and hashish. Neither our law has been capable to check their rampant use nor its production, distribution and sale. Despite the regular raids and the seizure of tons of such narcotics, the use has not been observed to be growing less. Likewise, there are such drugs which are sold in pharmacies with a legal prescription. Consider the examples of legally prescribed opilates or marijuana to treat problems like menstrual pain in females. But the pharmacies here look for money not the prescription and thus the drug access is easy for abusers. Other type of addicts like inhalants of paints, gums and dendrite, are tough to control. The more tight the security system is made in stopping transportation of drugs, abusers are found using much more complicated methods for transportation. So, it's not wise to rely only on national law to solve the drug problem. Nepali youths are found prone to drug abusing. Reports show that thirty per cent of Kathmandu valley people are mentally ill and 22.7 per cent among them are students. The new to old patient ratio in Patan Mental hospital is 1:4. And, in fact, it is drugs that has triggered mental illness in most of the drug abusers. To eliminate this drug use, we need to eliminate its root first. Many of us may think it's because of ignorance, but it's not, rather it's because of stupidity. Today, every youth and abuser knows that abusing drugs is injurious to their health and career prospects. So, it's unwise to spend much money in organizing programs to make such youths aware about the horrors of addiction. Misconceptions that drug relieves from peer pressure is prevailing even today. Youths are curious to taste the drugs because they see their elders and many friends using them. Although they know it's injurious, they can't stop themselves from going dor drug use. Efforts are needed to control the availability of drugs. The medicinal drugs should be only through the few government pharmacies, and that also with a valid prescription. This step will help in reducing drug abuse. Crucial role should be played by guardians in making their children aware of the hazards of substance use, besides monitoring their activities. Only a balanced approach of prevention, enforcement and treatment can be effective in fighting drug use. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D