Some more young people, messengers of a new age, will not tolerate unjust trends, creators of a sacred new life Brindavan – the great poet Sri Sri described the youth in this way. But in today’s circumstances, a section of that youth is trapped in the intoxication of drugs, putting at risk not only their own future but also the future of their families, society, and country. Youth should possess enthusiasm, creativity, and the power to question. But intoxicating substances are rendering that power ineffective. The drug network is expanding from cannabis to heroin, cocaine, MDMA, LSD, and synthetic drugs. This is no longer merely a problem of personal habit.. it has become a serious social and economic problem. According to a recent national survey conducted in India by AIIMS–NDDTC, about 3.5 crore people were found to use cannabis products, while 2.46 crore people use opioids. The survey concluded that about 25 lakh people in the country have cannabis-related problems, while 77 lakh people are in need of treatment for opioid use. Across the country, 1,09,546 cases were registered under the NDPS Act in one year. According to details released by the Union Home Ministry, during the same period, drugs worth more than Rs.25 thousand crore were seized across the country.
● Telangana swaying in intoxication.
The situation in Telangana is also alarming. Official statistics reveal that about 2,387 NDPS cases were registered in the state in one year, with 4,682 accused arrested. According to the state’s annual report, drugs worth Rs.125.25 crore were seized. These are only officially recorded statistics. It is difficult to estimate how extensive the illegal trade actually is. These figures indicate the severity of the drug problem both in the country and in Telangana. The spread of intoxicating substances from schools to colleges, and from cities to villages, is causing concern. In particular, international networks, interstate gangs, local intermediaries, and illegal networks operating through online platforms are expanding this trade by targeting youth and students. Once, the problem was limited to cannabis cultivation in forests and buying and selling in cities. Now, there are situations where drugs are being supplied through drug parties, supply networks formed around colleges, online channels, and courier systems. Therefore, it is not right to view this merely as an individual’s weakness. Numerous social and economic factors such as the illegal trade being conducted for huge profits, unemployment, social inequalities, consumer culture, growing despair among youth, and loneliness are contributing to the expansion of this problem. To protect youth from intoxication, it is necessary not only to understand the consumer but also to understand and curb the entire supply system behind this illegal trade.
● Why are youth themselves becoming peddlers?
The drug mafia is not only creating consumers but is also using youth as peddlers and couriers for its business. College students, engineering and MBA graduates, unemployed people, delivery boys, cab drivers, courier staff, and small traders are also getting caught in the trap of these gangs in the hope of making money. Drug supplies are being carried out using social media, online payments, and digital networks.Youth do not turn to drugs for just one reason. There are many reasons such as unemployment, despair about the future, loneliness, mental stress, lack of family supervision, glamorization of intoxication on social media, starting for fun and turning into a habit, and the desire to make easy money. A habit that starts as fun eventually becomes an addiction. There is a risk that the situation may progress from troubling family members for money, taking on debts, and telling lies to thefts, assaults, and other crimes.
● Not just law, there must also be a solution.
The NDPS Act in the country has strict provisions for controlling drugs. There are severe punishments for illegal production, possession, sale, purchase, and transportation. In Telangana, the Anti-Narcotic Bureau, Eagle Force, police, and task force are working together. However, arrests and cases alone are not a complete solution to the problem. The large networks behind the drug mafia must be dismantled. The law must be enforced so that everyone, regardless of status, faces it equally. At the same time, youth should be provided with quality education, stable employment, sports grounds, libraries, cultural platforms, and healthy recreational opportunities. It is not possible to completely curb the drug problem without addressing root issues such as unemployment, poverty, and social isolation.Addicted people should not simply be branded as criminals; they should be provided treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation. At the same time, strict action must be taken against the large mafia behind the drug trade.
● The country’s future is in the hands of youth.
The statement that today’s youth are tomorrow’s citizens is not merely a slogan, but a literal truth that heralds the country’s progress. The country’s progress depends primarily on the available young human resources, even more than on economic wealth. However, in the present era, the biggest epidemic internally consuming that youthful energy is drugs. The impact of drugs does not stop with one individual; along with their health, education, employment, and creativity, it fills families with irreparable anguish and economic devastation. Moreover, it leads to an increase in crime and the flow of illicit money, becoming a threat to national security itself. If youth who should drive the country forward with creativity become immersed in intoxication, the country’s future will be severely damaged. Therefore, the fight against drugs is not merely the responsibility of the police but a comprehensive social responsibility that the government, educational institutions, parents, and society must face together. Parents should be friendly with their children while observing their behavior, educational institutions should create proper awareness, and the government should strictly suppress the supply system. At the same time, youth should stay away from intoxicating substances and raise awareness among their peers. If youth are provided with proper education, skills, and employment opportunities, they can become a force that places the country at the forefront of the world. Therefore, this is an urgent time for everyone to join hands for a ‘drug-free society’ so that our youthful energy does not become a victim of intoxication but blossoms with awareness.