DESPITE taking different preventive measures, the number of drug addicts is increasing alarmingly. About 114 drug addicts on an average take treatment every day at public and private rehabilitation centers. Media said a total of 90,133 people with addiction underwent treatment at five government rehabilitation centers and 53,720 at 324 private ones in the last five years. The “war against drug” that killed around 500 people extra-judicially across the country has failed to cut off the supply chain as the law enforcers spared the political musclemen and kingpins. It’s true that easy availability of narcotics is the number one reason behind the rise of drug addicts. Besides, despair with life, unemployment, poor income against growing expenditure, et cetera are significantly contributing to the rise of drug addicts.
Anyone can buy drugs staying at home by placing an order over phone or online. Young people are particularly at risk because most of the drug abusers are aged between 18 and 35 years. The government has allocated Tk 1 crore to incentivize private rehabilitation centers, though there are no rehabilitation centers in 23 districts. The government, NGOs, educational and religious institutions should work coordinately to fight against drugs while the law enforcers, border guards, local government officials and judiciary should be strict in stopping it. Fight against drugs in our country seems to be most ineffective. It has made easier for the law enforcing agencies to use such allegations to harass innocent persons for extorting money. Drug allegations have also been used for police action against political opponents.
It needs accountability of a government if we want to save ourselves from the problems, like drug addiction, that becoming more intractable. We don’t understand why there is not a coordinated move against the drug business involving all the law enforcement and intelligence agencies and other relevant departments.
