Addictive drugs spoiling the younger generation

THE New Nation reported on Thursday mentioned that people are spending more than Tk 50 billion yearly to buy the stimulating contraband Yaba and others. Only Yaba ranks highest in consumption as the addicts spend about Tk 49 billion and residual items are spent for other items like Phensidyl, ganza and some other addicitive drugs. The abuse of contraband drug — Yaba and other addictive drugs is mounting in the country over the recent years, causing a serious concern in the society. This large amount of expenditure for the drugs has been the matter of deep concern as the country is incurring huge financial losses. The banned drug and its abysmal expense have sent a wave of shock and fear among the guardians in the country following its rapid spread among the people, particularly among the teens and youngsters.

Reports of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) said that law enforcement agencies seized over 19.5 million pieces of Yaba in 2015 throughout the country. In previous years, it was over 6.7 million pieces, which is very alarming as it indicated an increase in drug use. Experts said that the amount could be as much as Tk 48.87 billion if the value was calculated 10 times higher. In this frightening situation, anti-illicit drug consumption activists and guardians have urged the government to take serious note of the issues. An estimation said that the government can stop such illegal trades by intensifying its monitoring mechanism in and around the entry points of the country and thus save a huge amount of money going down the drain because of the illicit drug consumption. This is needed more to save the younger generation from being spoiled.

Teens and youngsters of the affluent families are the main consumers of these drugs, which makes the users excited and gives them instant euphoria but later on casts a deadly effect. Unknown to the users, Yaba has different side effects like tremors, hypertension, hallucination, psychotic episodes, paranoia, delusions, violent behavior, hypothermia, convulsions, agitation, anxiety, nervousness, mental confusion and memory loss. The physical effect of the addicted people and economic loss of the country may lead the government and other stakeholders to open their eyes and be aware of the deadly effect of the drug as it is silently destroying our younger generation and economy respectively. Interestingly, most addictive drugs come from across the border. A report said that there are now nearly 9.0 million people in the country who are highly dependent on drugs which is nine times higher than the number estimated in the 1990s.

There exists a strong nexus between the drug gangs and some of the members of law enforcers who are responsible for this alarming rise and expenditure of Yaba and other addictive drugs consumption.

The government should start a vigorous drive to control the supply by identifying and eliminating the corrupt personnel among the administration who are responsible for bringing it into the country.