Regional co-operation under SAARC may be an additional blessing to solve the problem. Bangladesh apparently failed to get mutual co-operation from neighboring countries. Bangladesh may shift the policy on prevention, education and training of all stakeholders to eradicate drugs from our society.

1. Published: 01:04 AM, 04 July 2021
https://dailyasianage.com/news/265738/share-facts-on-drugs-save-lives
Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives
M S Siddiqui
Addiction means the condition of being an addict. Addict is a person who is unable to stop
taking drugs, alcohol etc. Addiction includes all kinds of addictive substances like drugs,
alcohol, tobacco, heroin etc. All kinds of addiction are dangerous and severely detrimental
tohealth, hygiene and society. It finally results in death of the addicts.
Drug abuse is a patterned use of a substance in which the user consumes the substance in
amounts or with methods neither approved nor advised by medical professionals. Substance
abuse often includes problems with impulse control and impulsive behavior. There are many
cases in which criminal or antisocial behavior occur when the person is under the influence of
a drug. Substance abuse is prevalent with an estimated 120 million users of hard drugs such
as cocaine, heroin, and other synthetic drugs.
In a statistics, it is shown that among 253 drug abusers 31% is addicted in cannabis (Ganja),
26% in alcohol, 24% in phensidyl, 10% in heroin and 9% in diazepam, antihistamine etc. The
male: female ratio is 20:1. The predominant age group are- 5% is in between 10-15 years,
58% is in between 18-35 years, 20% is in between 35-50 years and rest is above 50 years of
age.
Bangladesh is not a drug or precursor producing country. Bangladesh's close proximity to
Golden Triangle & Golden Crescent has rendered our country vulnerable to traffic in and
abuse of drugs. Precursor chemicals are imported under license for industrial & other use.
Bangladesh is a transit country for drugs produced in the Golden Triangle and, to a much
lesser degree, the Golden Crescent. In Bangladesh the situation is more dangerous. A number
of smugglers are active and are smuggling intoxicants under the auspices of powerful lobbies
without any interruption.
Reports from the Indian Narcotics Control Bureau also indicate that heroin is smuggled from
India to Bangladesh through the porous Indo- Bangladesh border. Bangladesh is not believed
to manufacture any narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances illicitly. It also does not
manufacture any precursor chemicals except hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid.

2. Ganja is still cultivated, particularly in the districts of Naogaon, Rajshahi, Jamalpur and
Nerrokona in the northwestern region, as well as the hilly districts near Cox's Bazaar,
Banderban, Khagrachhari and Rangamati. Reliable figures for the total area of Ganja
production in Bangladesh are not available, but cultivation in the Chittagong Hill Tract region
is reportedly on the increase.
Some international media reports had suggested that Bangladesh was being used as a transit
to smuggle drugs to places like South America and the Middle East and in the process of
doing so, some of the drugs were being diverted for domestic consumption. Bangladesh has
witnessed an explosion in the trafficking of Yaba from Myanmar and Phyncidile from India
into the country and its consumption. The social cost this has had on Bangladesh has been
enormous.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's (UNODC)drug report 2021 mentioned that over
the past year, around 275 million people have used drugs, up by 22 per cent from 2010. By
2030,demographic factors project the number of people using drugs to rise by 11 per cent
around the world, and as much as 40 per cent in Africa alone. Access to drugs has also
become simpler than ever with online sales, and major drug markets on the dark web are now
worth some $315 million annually. Contactless drug transactions, such as through the mail,
are also on the rise, a trend possibly accelerated by the pandemic.
In a study (2004) analyzed the money spent by addicts on drugs andfound that the amount
spent per year was much higher than the average per capita income of Bangladeshis.
Applying the findings of the study to the total population of drug users in Bangladesh, the
author estimated that the total amount spent by drug users in Bangladesh would be extremely
high if compared with the annual expenditure for healthcare or drugs or the allocation for
development program in Bangladesh.
The Narcotics Control Act of 1990 covers the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substances, including provisions for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependent
people. Bangladesh amended the Narcotics Act in 2002 and this allows the Director General
of the Department of Narcotics Control to send drug users for treatment. The demand
reduction policy in the country is based on the Narcotics Act. The Government of Bangladesh
recognizes an important complementary role for NGOs in the drug demand reduction sector.
The United Nations General Assembly in 1987 decided to observe 26 June as the
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its
determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international
society free of drug abuse. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) selects
themes for the International Day and launches campaigns to raise awareness about the global
drug problem.
Health is the ongoing theme of the world drug campaign. The theme of the year 2021 is
"Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives". The relationship between alcohol and illegal drugs,
crime, and violence is both direct and complex. Research indicates that one of the major
causes of read crush is use of drugs and alcohols.
Government also needs to join hands with all citizens to implement the drug control
programs. Community support is extremely important to prevent, treat, rehabilitate and

3. accept those addicted to substances. Help break the stigma and promote faster recovery. The
celebrity members of the different profession may be a good role model and empower young
people to deal with life challenges to buffer substance abuse.
They may be a messenger - provide factual information on the negative socio-economic
effects of substance abuse to bring about behavioural changes. Different social organizations
be partner with government volunteer and support rehabilitation program to increase access
to information for affected individuals and communities.
The drug policies of many successful countries in combating addiction into drugs and
alcohols has seen a gradual shift away from the punitive approaches reflected in regional and
global frameworks. The regulating authorities more focuses on prevention of drugs supply
with international cooperation. They are promoting training programs for parents, teachers
and social leaders. They run the rehabilitation centers for treatment of the drug addicts to
come back to normal life.
Bangladesh law focuses on prevention, education, training and operation of rehabilitation
programs. The drug abuse prevention program will not succeed unless they consists both of
supply and demand reduction program. Therefore, the government needs to conduct various
demand reduction activities. A major role in demand reduction activities in Bangladesh may
be played by the ministries of information, education, social-welfare, health, youth and
sports, and local government. The Narcotics department should co-ordinate with these
Ministries and Departments.
Bangladesh may avail help from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
which works on international drug control. Regional co-operation under SAARC may be an
additional blessing to solve the problem. Bangladesh apparently failed to get mutual co-
operation from neighboring countries. Bangladesh may shift the policy on prevention,
education and training of all stakeholders to eradicate drugs from our society.
M S Siddiqui is Legal Economist.
e-mail: mssiddiqui2035@gmail.com