Editorial
Drug addiction and trafficking menace
Multi-pronged strategy needed to contain it
THE problem with a socio-global menace that admits of no easy solution is that much as we would be voluble and even resolute to fight it, we might give in to a state of fatigue over its perceived intractability at some stage. Daunting as the odds maybe, insofar as its banishing goes, we can at least settle for reducing its scale towards a reasonable degree of containment. That is quite within the realm of possibility provided we proceed with a national plan, give it a resource boost and put in place a sustainable preventative and curative infrastructure.
Yesterday, there was a worldwide observance of the International Day Against Drug Addiction and Illicit Trafficking -- notably, for the 23rd time since the declaration of the day by the UN General Assembly in 1987. But somehow, in Bangladesh, the observance was rather low key; even so, we have gathered some valuable information from the limited discussions held about the situation in our country. The menace is more prevalent in Bangladesh than is readily realised -- particularly among the students and a large body of unemployed youth. It is a bio-psycho -- social disorder, so that the preventative and curative approaches will have to be multidimensional.
Only 5 to 15 percent addicts can be cured on a sustainable basis, although the rate of success with detoxification of the body is high, there is a considerable relapse into the drug addiction syndrome. That is proving to be quite challenging. There is a continuing need for counselling and guidance even of reformed cases at the family and anti-drug therapy homes, some of which have had a high success rate. The success stories will have to be accorded a wider publicity and co-sharing of experiences.
Basically, however, the government and its law enforcement agencies must strive to stem illicit trafficking of drugs and narcotics through networking with regional countries and via the instrumentality of SAARC convention, intelligence sharing and joint raids. Let's not forget, drug trade is often blended with arms trafficking.
On the preventive side, the family, community, the educational institutions and concerned NGOs have a role to play in sensitising the youth against the evils of drugs and narcotics.
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