DRUGS are not child's play

Thus read the slogan for the 2006 campaign to be launched on 26 June, the international Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

The latest estimates indicate that 200 million people, or 5 per cent of the global population age 15-64, have consumed illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months. But what about kids? What about children (aged 4 to 10)?

Although they are seldom the object of national and international studies, children of all ages are affected by drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Street children, working and living in dire conditions, are vulnerable, as are boys and girls whose family members are buying or selling illicit substances. At school, the situation may not be any better. Teenagers and peers may be pressuring kids to smoke cigarrettes and drink alcohol, at first, and then to try marijuana. Other types of drugs may follow.

The environment is really conducive for street kids to walk on the footsteps of Diego Maradona, Fardeen Khan and Rahul Mahajan now. There are a number of causes for the spurt in Drugs industry, if we may call it so. Actions need to be taken not only at the ends but also through out the supply chain. Realising the need for extensive data and information on the issue, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime published in 2004 one of the most comprehensive baseline studies, "The Extent, Pattern and Trends of Drug Abuse in India: National Survey". According to the report, apart from alcohol (62.46 million users), cannabis (8.75 million users), opiates such as heroin, opium, buprenorphine and propoxyphene (2.04 million users), and sedatives (0.29 million users) are the drugs most abused. The pie chart shows the distribution of the types of drugs consumed in terms of percentage. The NCB(Narcotics Control Bureau) of India is officially responsible for anti narcotic operations all over the country and it checks the spread of the contraband as well as the cultivation of drugs.

Looking at a broader picture cultivation of drugs is going on at large scale in Latin America and other African Nations. US has financed a number of projects in Columbia and even given Military aid to stop the cross border traficking of drugs. But as usual Venenzuela is a thorn in the plans. Some parts of Africa are major exporters of Drugs for Europe. As the Drug abuse heads its way to the east a decisive plan needs to be drawn to control if not eradicate the deadly disease completely.

Comprehensive development projects should be implemented which address the broader economic situation of farmers who cultivate drug crops due to rural poverty, lack of access to markets for legal products and unsuitable soil for many other crops. Also Law Enforcement project should be put into place so that common laws which address issues at large can be enacted. UNODC projects seek to limit the cultivation, production, trafficking and distribution of drugs.

Efficient and Effective Implementation is the need of the hour, if we are to stop more Rahul's cropping up in the system. This issue should be taken as a stern warning and not some adhoc instance. Lets see, if we can learn lessons from this and march forward to build a society in a "real sense".