CHAPTER - 3

NATURE AND EXTENT OF DRUG ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM

Drug habit is fastest growing problem among youth in developing

nations and furthermore in developed nations. It is one of the most widespread

and burning social problems creating a grave in the social periphery is the

problem of drug addiction. In today’s world we are confronting more

difficulties, similar to, poverty, corruption, begging, underdevelopment,

unemployment and so on and all these problems contribute to form a new

problem and that is one of the fast growing problems that is Alcoholism and

Drug addiction. Drug abuse gives peoples a false sense of security and self-

confidence. Subsequently, these young people take to various types of crime

including kidnapping, rape and, robbery and other types of offences.

In this Chapter the researcher has been tried to explain that, what is the

nature of drug abuse and Alcoholism and why to extent this problem very fast.

The study results make some interesting revelations. It reveals that the vast

majority of the respondents feel that conflict and unemployment both has added

to the problem of drug addiction among youth. Whereas many respondents also

revealed that girls also take drugs. Many respondents revealed that member

106
from their family take gateway drugs. Many respondents also revealed that

educational stress is one reason for youth to indulge in drug addiction. Youth

are the future of nation if they indulge in drug addiction it is doubtless going to

have most noticeably lawful effect on society. It also brings economic, cultural

and moral degradation to individual in particular and family in general1.

I think there is no part of the world that is free from the curse of

Alcoholism and drug addiction. Number of drug addicts, all over the world, are

leading miserable lives between life and death2. Our country is also affected of

drug problem. It is impossible to give any exact estimates of the number of drug

addicts in India. Nor can one with full confidence determine the basic question

as to whether drug addiction is increasing or decreasing3 but according to many

news and reports of research and media, In all over the world, numbers of drug

addicts are increasing day by day. The epidemic of misuse of substances in the

younger generation has assumed dangerous dimensions in India. Changing the

value of culture, increasing economic stress and winding supportive bonds are

leading to initiation into substance use. If a person in today’s world has not

begun to use alcohol, tobacco or an illicit substance during this period, it is

1
Drug addiction and youth of Kashmir M. Mudasir Naqshbandi 1School of Social Work,
Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India. Amar Singh College, 1202
Srinagar, India. Accepted 23 November, 2012
2
Drug Abuse In India | Youth Ki Awaaz, www.youthkiaawaaz.com
3
Nature and Extent of drug abuse and alcoholism, www.drugabuse.com

107
unlikely he or she ever will4. When the subject of drug use comes up, it is often

in relation to young people. The number of addicts of alcoholism in the world

and alcohol is the largest consummated drugs in the world also.

Their are many types of drug abuse in the world. People are

increasing in the growing tolerant environment of various forms of use of both

medical and non-medical substances around the world. The strong social

disapproval of the use of opiate drugs and the police pressures against drug

users and traffickers necessarily cause drug addicts and drug takers to conceal

themselves from strange or unfriendly eyes. They do not come into the open to

be counted. Any statistics with respect to the extent of drug addiction must

therefore usually be based on apprehended addicts or apprehended users of

drugs. If we knew what proportion of drug addicts or users are arrested every

year. we would have a reasonable basis for estimating the extent of drug

addiction in this country.

Unfortunately, we do not know the proportion that arrested drug addicts

or drug user’s bear to the total addict and user population. Moreover increases

or decreases in the number of arrests are just as likely to reflect increases or

decreases in police activity rather than an increase or decrease in drug use or

4
Youth and Drugs, world youth report 2003,Page 149.

108
drug addiction. A further complication is the fact that a person arrested as a

drug user may not necessarily be an addict, even though he may be so classified

by the police. Thus, any statements with respect to the extent of drug addiction

and its changes from year to year must be viewed with a considerable degree of

reserve and caution5.

As the time passes through the range of drugs increased to alarming

level, drugs like Narcotic: Analgesics, Morphine, Opium, Heroin, Brown Sugar,

Pethedine: Stimulants, Cocaine, Amphithemine, Depressants: Alcohol,

Barbiturates, Diazepam, Hallucinogens d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD),

Mescaline, Phencyclidine, Psilocybin and Cannabis: Ganja, Charas, Hash Oil

etc. are now frequently abused6.

If the world statistics on the drug scenario is taken into account with a

turnover of $500 billion, it is the third largest business in the world next to

petroleum and arm trade. About 190 million people all over the world consume

one drug or other. India too is caught in this vicious circle of drug abuse, and

the number of drug addicts is adding day by day. According to (Drugs, 2004) 1

5
ACPO Drugs Committee (2002), A review of drugs policy and proposals for the future, The
Association of Chief Police Officers
6
Drug addiction and youth of Kashmir, M. Mudasir Naqshbandi ,www.academicjournal.org

109
million heroin addicts are registered in India and unofficially there are as many

as 5 million7.

The geographical proximity has played very vital role so far as the

production, cultivation, trafficking and promotion of drug abuse in the world is

concerned. The Golden triangle which consists of a vast region of South-East

Asia includes the wild mountainous regions of Eastern Burma, Northern Laos

and Thailand produces the maximum possible Opium. The production and use

of Opiates does not only revolve around the economic gains and social

acceptability among the hill people of the area, but Opium trade is also

instrumental in the armed conflicts and the drugs are traded for military

hardware and ammunition. The close territorial chain of Iran, Afghanistan, and

Pakistan known as Golden Crescent plays vital role in the drug trade, for

obvious political and economic considerations8. In the course of recent years the

worldwide illicit drug industry has developed to the point that it right now has

yearly incomes drawing nearer $300 billion with a retail estimation of these

substances surpassing that of the overall oil trade.

The report of WHO stated that drug addiction is a growing problem

not only in developing countries but it is also in the developed countries. These
7
Ibid
8
Ibid

110
countries (The United States, Japan and Sweden) have “large scale epidemics of

amphetamine abuse”.9

HOW DRUGS ARE ABUSED?

Drug Abuse and Alcoholism being a psycho-socio-medical problem.

Drugs are smoked, snorted, consumed orally or injected depending on the

nature of drug. Some drugs can be used in more than one way. For instance,

heroin can be smoked while purer form of heroin can be injected. Injections

give a greater high than oral use or smoking and hence injecting drug use is

more harmful than oral use or smoking10.

THE GLOBAL CONTEXT OF DRUG USE

Global increases in problems of illicit drugs both reflect and contribute to

international tensions. The origins of some of these tensions are clear: rapid

changes in political alignment, reduced family and community cohesiveness,

increased unemployment and underemployment, economic and social

9
Margoob MA, Dutta K (1993). Drug Abuse in Kashmir - Experience from a Psychiatric
Diseases Hospital. Indian J. Psychiatr. 35(3):163
10
Drugs of abuse, Department of revenue,www.dor.gov.in

111
marginalization and increased crime11.

Alcoholism is also a problem in overview because in mostly cases the

accused has intoxicated. Domestic violence, driving accidents, public services,

school, colleges etc, the alcoholism is the same reason behind these. Drug abuse

is increasing very fast day by day. Increases in problems of illicit drugs both

reflect and contribute to international tensions. The origins of some of these

tensions are clear: rapid changes in political alignment, reduced family and

community cohesiveness, increased unemployment and underemployment,

economic and social marginalization and increased crime12.

“The global changes which have allowed people, goods, and money to

move from one country to other cheaply and easily have also had other

consequences. They have made the differences and inequalities around the

world more apparent and more unacceptable. In many cases, the differences

between rich and poor grow wider. Moreover, a number of developing

countries, especially those in Africa and selected countries in Latin America and

Asia, have largely missed out on the benefits of increases in world trade and

investment and consequent economic growth. In some cases, this has been the

11
The social Impact of Drug Abuse, study was originally prepared by UNDCP as a position
paper for the World Summit for Social development ( Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995)
12
Winslow A, Wood LA (1959). Relation of land subsidence to groundwater withdrawals in
the upper Gulf Coast region, Texas. Min. Eng. 11(10):1030-1034.

112
result of political instability, ethnic conflict, natural disasters, or

mismanagement of the economy. Whatever the reason in a given country, the

lack of economic progress has put such countries in a financial bind and

frequently placed severe restrictions on government services available to the

most vulnerable segments of the population. In this context, the nation as well

as States and its individual citizens have become more vulnerable to the

temptations of money from illicit drug production and trafficking and to the

acceptance of illicit drug profits by financial institutions or as direct

investment.”13

“Today there is more awareness of the problems of illicit drugs and drug

trafficking than ever before. How to translate that awareness into constructive

action is a major challenge. The term "illicit drugs" is used in this paper to

include the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances listed in the schedules of

the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, and that Convention as

amended by the 1972 Protocol and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances

of 1971. Of the more than 200 controlled substances listed, United Nations

International Drugs Control Programme, UNDCP emphasizes opium-heroin,

coca-cocaine, cannabis, and amphetamine-type stimulants due to their

13
The Social Impact of Drug Abuse - United Nations Office on Drugs, www.unodc.org

113
importance for both developing and industrialized countries.”14

According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC)

2015 World Drug Report, an estimated that a total of 246 million people or 1

out of 20 people between the ages of 15 and 64 years, used an illicit drug in

2015. That represents an increase of 3 million over the previous year but,

because of the increase in the global population, illicit drug use has in fact

remained stable. Cannabis use is increasing and continues to be high in West

and Central Africa, Western and Central Europe and Oceania, as well as in

North America, where the most recent data available indicate an increase in the

prevalence of cannabis use in the United States15. It is estimate that over two

hundred and sixty two million people abuse cannabis (marijuana or hashish),

making it the most prevalent illicit substance, followed by amphetamine type

stimulants, opiates and cocaine16. Over 35 million used amphetamine type

stimulants, 16 million are opiates and 13 million are cocaine users17.

GLOBAL TRENDS IN THE ESTIMATED PREVALENCE OF DRUG

USE, 2006-2013

14
The social Impact of Drug Abuse, study was originally prepared by UNDCP as a position
paper for the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995)
15
Drug use - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime https://www.unodc.org/unodc
16
Sudan FK (2007). Sponsored by Centre for Study of Developing Societies, New Delhi,
India.
17
Chopra I (1971). Symposium on drug addiction. Indian J. Pharmacol. 3(1):43.

114
 3

2.5

Series 2
1.5
Series 1
1

0.5

0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEM OVERVIEW

“Alcohol has been identified as an important risk factor in injury occurrence.

The problem of alcohol-related injuries is particularly alarming in developing

countries, like India, where increasing rates of alcohol consumption are coupled

with hazardous patterns of drinking, injury rates are extremely high, and

appropriate public health policies have not been implemented.”

Inhalants such as gum, nail polish, cigarette lighter fluid, hairspray,

paint thinner, gasoline / petrol, correction fluid and amyl nitrite (sometimes

called popper) are cheap and easy to buy in all areas and therefore collectively

115
especially in the form of drug of choice weak young children around the world.

The “high” occurs very quickly, with effects similar to alcohol-related

drunkenness, but there are those who experience something like hallucinations.

Street young people often smell the gum or other inhalants to cover hunger and

cold. Sniffing can also be a social activity that allows users to deposit their

money and, in some cases, to present an anti-installation image.48 “Inhalant use

is an issue that spans the globe, though rates vary widely. Among 40 countries

supplying lifetime prevalence data during the 1990s, 16 report-ed rates of lower

than 5 per cent, 15 reported rates of between 5 and 10 percent and 10 reported

rates of 10 to 20 per cent. Rates in poorer communities and among indigenous

peoples can be much higher. For example, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, nearly 24 per

cent of 9- to 18-year-olds living in poverty had tried inhalants. More than 60 per

cent of youth have reported use of inhalants in several Native communities in

Canada and the United States. In Africa, inhalants and cannabis appear to be the

illicit substances most commonly used by youth (falling short of the number

using alcohol and tobacco).”18

Currently, the highest reported rate of cocaine use is among grade young

person in world where 7 percent claim past-year use (in the United States,

18
Inhalant science in context, Encyclopedia of Drugs and Addictive substance 2010,
www.ic.galegroup.coms

116
Where peak usage is 12th year, less than 5% of students reported last year's

usage). The use of heroin by injection is generally the behavior of marginalized

people in urban areas;19 The rates of school age girls are relatively low

(although less than 2 percent, though 4.3 percent of Australian students, recently

15-16 years of age children used opiates). The rates of heroin smoking are

usually higher, however. For example, Latvia, Poland and Romania have

reported a rate of 5 to 8 percent - the highest in the region for 10 grade students.

Although not used for psychoactive effects, steroids are illegal and can have

serious consequences. A relatively small percentage of young people (less than

3 percent in Australia and the United States, mainly men) use steroids to

increase body image and / or athletic performance.

Over the years, medicines have been used and used for non-

prescribed, non-medical purposes. Last few year, non-medical amphetamine

was used in Australia by 6% in grade 10 students and 7.8% in Ontario in

Canada, The United States. has 12 percent. A stimulant medication that has

been diverted and used non-medically by youth in several cities in the United

States during the past decade is Ritalin.20

19
Youth and addiction, www.youand youth.com
20
Nonmedical prescription opiod use and use disorder among adult age 18 through 64 year
2013

117
 Media reports from Bangladesh show that young people use phensidryl

syrup. Use of phensidryl cough syrup in Bangladesh is very high. In India,

phensidryl cough syrup is traded directly from Bangladesh. Alcohol contains

alcohol, codeine (an inferior) and ephedrine (stimulants) and other alcoholic

beverages are cheaper than other easily available. In a significant proportion of

the countries providing data, rates of non-prescription drugs usage are higher

among women.21

According to World Health Survey of 2003 (total sample size n = 9540,

male n = 4605 and female n = 4935, according to samples 18 years of age or

older), 89.6% (total), 80.2% (male) and 98.4% (female).22

“Estimates from key alcohol experts show that the proportion of adult males and

females who had been abstaining (last year before the survey) was 75% (males)

and 96% (females). Data is for after year 1995.

The 2003 National Household Survey of Alcohol and Drug Abuse of 40 697

males aged between 12 to 60 years old found that the rate of lifetime abstainers

21
World Youth Report 2003: The Global Situation of Young People. By United Nations.
Dept. of Economic and Social Affairs.
22
World health survey 2003, www.who.int/substance abuse

118
among the sampled population was 74.1%. Of the total sampled population,

21.4% were reported to be current users of alcohol23.

In Meghalaya and upper Assam region found that the prevalence rate of

alcohol use was 12.5%. Female alcohol use was low (3.2%) compared with

male use (20.2%). Distribution by age documents that prevalence was

approximately 23% among adults and the older age group (30 years and above)

and 4.2% among adolescents and young adults (10 to 29 years).

Data from regional surveys (male subjects 15 years and above) conducted

in 1997 show that for the Lucknow, Mandsaur and Thoubal regions, the rate of

heavy drinking among male current drinkers was 79.7%, 87.9% and 89%

respectively. Heavy drinking was defined as monthly consumption of 75 ml or

more of pure alcohol.

According to the 2003 World Health Survey (total sample size n = 722;

males n = 658 and females n = 64), the mean value (in grams) of pure alcohol

consumed per day among drinkers was 35.9 (total), 38.3 (males) and 12.9

(females).

23
Concept and Extent of Alcoholism, Module 6 Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Corruption,
NPTEL – Humanities and Social Sciences – Indian Society : Issues and Problems.

119
 According to the 2003 World Health Survey (total sample size n = 9540,

males n = 4605 and females n = 4935; sample population aged 18 years and

above), the rate of heavy episodic drinking among the total population was

1.4% (total), 2.9% (males) and 0.1% (females). Heavy episodic drinking as

defined as at least once a week consumption of five standard drinks in one

sitting.”24

According to the international guide for monitoring alcohol consumption

and related harm, Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence

Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Cluster World Health

Organization. There is considerable variation evident in the extent of alcohol-

related harm in different regions of the world. In the developed Western

countries, India, China and former Eastern Bloc countries alcohol is estimated

to contribute between 1.2% and 1.4% of all deaths, higher levels are evident in

other Asian countries (1.8%), Sub-Saharan Africa (2.1%) and Latin American

countries (4.5%). It should be noted that these are almost certainly

underestimates as several alcohol-related causes of death were excluded from

the analysis since it was not possible to make reliable estimates of their

24
Ustun TB et al. The World Health Surveys. In: Murray CJL, Evans DB, eds. Health
Systems Performance Assessment: Debates, Methods and Empiricism. Geneva, World
Health Organization.

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prevalence. China and India (OAI) (e.g. Indonesia, Vietnam) also indicated

higher than average levels of death caused by alcohol (1.8%).”25

DRUGS PROBLEM IN INDIA

In India there are number of addicts of drug misuse and alcoholism.

Every year many accidents and cases has been registered to drug control and

related laws, for example Excise Act, N.D.P.S. Act and others and many

persons has been arrested under these laws. Every year on June 26, it is

celebrated as international day against drug abuse and illegal trafficking. This is

usually a practice done by the world community to make people, especially,

sensitive to the threat of drugs to the youth. The picture is serious if the world's

statistics are kept in mind on the drugs scenario. With a turnover of around $550

billions. This is the world's third largest business, next to petroleum and arms

trade. About 190 million people all over the world consume one drug or the

other26. Human beings are stressed due to drug addiction, and illegal production

and distribution of drugs have created crime and violence around the world.

Today, there is no part of the world which is free from drug trafficking and drug

25
International guide For monitoring Alcohol consumption And related harm
26
Miller, WR. Sanchez, VC. Motivating young adults for treatment and lifestyle change. In:
Howard G., editor. Issues in alcohol use and misuse in young adults. University of Notre
Dame Press; 1993. pp. 55–82.

121
addiction. Millions of drug addicts throughout the world live in miserable life

between life and death.27

India has been caught in this vicious cycle of drug abuse, and the

number of drug addicts is increasing day by day. According to the UN report,

approximate one lakh heroin addicts are registered in India and informally about

5 lakh people are there. Started as a casual use among a small population of

high-income youth in the metro cities, all sections of the society have entered.

Inhalation of heroine alone, has given way to the use of narcotic drugs, it

is also in conjunction with other narcotics and painkillers. It has increased the

intensity of effect, has accelerated the process of addiction and has complicated

the recovery process. Cannabis, heroin, and Indian-produced pharmaceutical

drugs are the most frequently abused drugs in India. The cannabis product, often

called bhang, charas or ganja is misbehaving throughout the country, because of

having relations with some Hindu deities, they have received some religious

righteousness. In the 2002 report released by the International Narcotics Control

Board in Vienna, in report that in India, addictives of opiates are transferring

their choice of drugs from opium to heroin. Drug pharmaceutical products are

also increasingly being abused. The intravenous injections of analgesics like

27
Substance abuse in India Ahmad nadeem, bano rubeena, agarwal v.k., kalakoti piyush,
Pravara Med Rev 2009; 1(4)

122
dextropropoxphene etc are also reported from many states, as it is easily

available at 1/10th the cost of heroin. The codeine-based cough syrups continue

to be diverted from the domestic market for abuse.28

The aspect of drug misuse is different social, cultural, biological,

geographical, historical and economic. The breakdown of the old joint family

system, the absence of the love and care of the parents in modern families,

where both parents are working, reduces the old religious and moral values etc

the increase in the number of drug addicts, who take drugs to escape hard

realities of life. Drug use, abuse or misuse is mainly due to the nature of drug

abuse, the personality of the individual and the addict's immediate

environment.29 Industrialization, urbanization and migration processes have

eased the traditional methods of social control that provides a person's

sensitivity to the stress and strain of modern life. A rapidly changing social

environment, in addition to other factors, is primarily contributing to the spread

of drug regeneration, both traditional and new psychoactive substances. The

introduction of synthetic drugs and intravenous drug use leading to HIV/AIDS

has added a new dimension to the problem, especially in the Northeast states of

the country.

28
World Health Organization. Women of South-East Asia: a health profile. New Delhi: WHO
Regional Office for South- East Asia; 2000.
29
Dube KC, Kumar A, Kumar N, Gupta SP. Prevalence and pattern of drug use, Acta
Psychiat Scand 57:336-46.

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 Drug abuse has led to increase in the crime rate. Addicts resort to crime to

pay for their drugs. eve, group conflict, attack and impulsive murder with

substance abuse, apart from drug addiction and causes of countless emotional

pain for every member of the family. Due to being in the productive age group

of 18-35 years with most drug abusers, losses in the case of human capacity are

incomparable. The loss of physical, psychological, moral and intellectual

development of the youth is very high. Adolescent drug abuse is one of the key

areas of concern in the behavior of teenagers and young people. It is estimated,

in India, as long as most boys reach ninth grade, about 50 percent of them have

attempted at least one gateway drugs. However, in the case of substance abuse

incidents, there is a wide regional variation in the states. For example, a large

part of adolescents in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh use drugs

(approximately 60 percent of the two states) in comparison to Uttar Pradesh or

Haryana (about 35 percent).

Our country (India) has tied itself up to face the threat of drug trafficking

at both national and international levels. Several measures related to innovative

changes in enforcement, legal and judicial systems have been implemented. The

introduction of death penalty for drug-related crimes has been a major deterrent.

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, were enacted with

stringent provisions to curb this menace. The Act envisages a minimum term of

124
10 years imprisonment extendable to 20 years and fine of Rs. 1 lakh extendable

up to Rs. 2 lakhs for the offenders30. The Act has been further amended by

making provisions for the forfeiture of properties derived from illicit drugs

trafficking. Comprehensive strategy involving specific programmes to bring

about an overall reduction in use of drugs has been evolved by the various

government agencies and NGOs and is further supplemented by measures like

education, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation programmes. India has

bilateral agreements on drug trafficking with 13 countries, including Pakistan

and Burma. Prior to 1999, extradition between India and the United States

occurred under the auspices of a 1931 treaty signed by the United States and the

United Kingdom, which was made applicable to India in 1942. However, in

July 1999 a new extradition treaty was introduced between India and the United

States. In October 2001 a mutual legal assistance treaty was signed by India and

the United States.31 India also signed the following treaties and conventions:

 1961 U.N. Convention on Narcotic Drugs

 1971 U.N. Convention on Psychotropic Substances

30
Substance abuse in India Ahmad Nadeem, bano Rubeena, Agarwal V.K.,Kalakoti Piyush,
Pravara Med Rev 2009; 1(4)
31
Drug abuse in India, Azad India Foundation, www.azadindia.org

125
 1988 U.N. Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and

Psychotropic substance

 2000 Transnational Crime Convention

The spread and erosion of drug abuse can be prevented, because the cost of

people, environment and economy will be very large. The lain-looking lanes of

illegal social criminals should be sufficient for the cinema halls and other public

places so that the authorities should take immediate action to overcome the

crisis of this social evil. Apart from this, the spread of such condemnatory

habits should be arrested at all prices among the relatively young class of

society. There is a need to collaborate and complement each other's efforts to

solve the problem of drug addiction for government enforcement agencies, non-

governmental philanthropic agencies and others through education and legal

actions.32

NATURE OF DRUG ADDICTION

Indicates both global development in the problems of illegal drugs and

32
UNODC (2003), Global illicit drug trends 2003, United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime.

126
alcohol and contributes to international tension. The origin of some of these

tensions is clear: rapid change in political alignment, decrease in coordination of

family and community, increasing unemployment and inadequacy, economic

and social revenues and increasing crime. Indicates both global development in

the problems of illegal drugs and alcohol and contributes to international

tension. The origin of some of these tensions is clear: rapid change in political

alignment, decrease in coordination of family and community, increasing

unemployment and inadequacy, economic and social revenues and increasing

crime33

The nature of drugs is very dangerous. Opium were the only drug of

abuse and if the only kind of abuse were one of habitual, compulsive use,

discussion of addiction might be a simple matter. But opium is not the only drug

of abuse, and there are probably as many kinds of abuse as there are drugs to

abuse or, indeed, as maybe there are persons who abuse. Various substances are

used in so many different ways by so many different people for so many

different purposes that no one view or one definition could possibly embrace all

the medical, psychiatric, psychological, sociological, cultural, economic,

33
SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ABUSE, This study was originally prepared by UNDCP as a
position paper for the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, 6-12 March
1995)

127
religious, ethical, and legal considerations that have an important bearing on

addiction. Prejudice and ignorance have led to the labelling of all use of non

sanctioned drugs as addiction and of all drugs, when misused, as narcotics. The

continued practice of treating addiction as a single entity is dictated by custom

and law, not by the facts of addiction34.

The tradition of equating drug abuse with narcotic addiction originally

had some basis in fact. Historically, questions of addiction centred on the

misuse of opiates, the various concoctions prepared from powdered opium.

Then various alkaloids of opium, such as morphine and heroin, were isolated

and introduced into use. Being the more active principles of opium, their

addictions were simply more severe. Later, drugs such as methadone and

Demerol were synthesized but their effects were still sufficiently similar to

those of opium and its derivatives to be included in the older concept of

addiction35. With the introduction of various barbiturates in the form of

sedatives and sleeping pills, the homogeneity of addictions began to break

down. Then came various tranquilizers, stimulants, new and old hallucinogens,

and the various combinations of each. At this point, the unitary consideration of

addiction became untenable. Legal attempts at control often forced the inclusion

34
Nature and causes of drug addiction,www.sunrisehouse.com
35
Substance use and abuse, By Kara Rogers - 2011

128
of some non addicting drugs into old, established categories—such as the

practice of calling marijuana a narcotic. Problems also arose in attempting to

broaden addiction to include habituation and, finally, drug dependence. Unitary

conceptions cannot embrace the diverse and heterogeneous drugs currently in

use36.

Any substance that makes you desire it when you begin it is an addictive

agent; a person who succumbs to feeding the craving is an addict. A man may

build up a physical "need" for the drug, or a mental craving for the drug. Drug

dependence includes enthusiastically looking to use a substance, regardless of

the potentially negative social, mental and physical outcomes. In other words,

you may have a psychological and emotional, in addition a strong physical

dependence on the drug. When an addict quits taking a drug, it can produce an

unpleasant physical response.

Drug abuse refers to the misuse or wrong use of drugs which have

adverse effects on the central nervous system, mind, mood, behavior and

personality of the individuals. There are dozens of reasons people choose to use

drugs, and even more reasons that drug use or any substance use may lead to

substance abuse and eventually dependency. Some people are biologically

36
The Complete Encyclopedia of Medicine & Health BY Johannes Schade - 2006

129
predisposed to substance abuse and dependency .The reasons people may turn

to substance use include variations in environment37, social support and

socioeconomic status that can make drugs or alcohol seem like an easy coping

mechanism. Other reasons include psychological varieties, for example, an

indiscreet identity that prompts more risky decision-making, or coexisting

conditions that have a positive connection with substance use. It Understands

the reasons that people use substances makes it possible to identify dangerous

situations and avoid them38. Individuals are helpless to substance abuse and

dependency because of contributing biological, psychological and social

components. The biological component refers to the specific brain structures

that surround the way drug use affects the body, as well as the processes leading

to physical addiction. The psychological component describes how subjective

and mental procedures can lead a man to substance use, whether as a coping

mechanism in response to stress or because of poor cost-benefit analysis, where

a person perceives the benefits of substance use as more significant than the

potential costs involved. Finally, the social component refers to environmental

pressures that can lead to abuse and dependence, which incorporate family life,

social backing, financial status and different components.

37
Drug abuse vs Addiction, www.drugabuse.com
38
Nature or Nature? Why do people do drugs? May 16, 2013 | Addiction Research addiction-
research,www.recoveryranch.com

130
IN NORTH EAST INDIA AREAS

The alarming rate of drug abuse. it may be regarded as one of the greatest

malaise in contemporary Indian society. Consequently, drug abusers are known

to demonstrate various forms of deviant behavior and organized crimes

including truancy, cultism, examination misconduct and high risk sexual

behavior, among others.

Individuals use various types of drugs to change the way they feel.

Different cultures have developed social rituals and rules around drug use as a

way to control their impact on society. Drugs and how they are used also have

different meanings in different cultures. For example in Defence in cold areas

rum is drunk as a means for increase the body temperature, Its not an offence

but if any person drink at public place so it is an offence. Use alcohol to

celebrate special events like birthdays and weddings is another example39.

Alcoholism statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism show that the age of a person’s first alcoholic drink may determine

their likely hood in becoming an alcoholic. It has been found that those who had

their first alcoholic drink before they were 15 were much more likely to have a

39
Alcohol and other drugs, www.nt.gov

131
problem with alcohol later in life than those who abstained until a later age.

Information from the World Health Organization shows that there are an

estimated 140 million alcoholics around the world! Recently, a study conducted

in Canada on alcoholism statistics showed that 1 in 25 deaths around the world

can be attributed to alcohol in one way or another. On a positive note, experts

estimate that around 30% of people who have problems with alcohol (not severe

alcoholics) are able to reduce their alcohol consumption or abstain completely

from alcohol without receiving professional help40.

Alcohol is banned in some parts of India such as Bihar, Manipur and

Gujarat, but it is legally consumed in the majority of states. There are believed

to be 62.5 million people in India who at least occasionally drink alcohol.

Indians prefer hard liquors and distilled spirits over beers – 80% of consumption

involves these stronger beverages. It is suggested that 20% of the population has

at least tried alcohol. In the past two decades the number of people who have

consumed alcohol has moved from 1 in 300 to 1 in 20.41 The Lancet reported

that more than half of those who consume alcohol in India would fall into the

category of hazardous drinking. It has been suggested that there are a

worryingly 14 million people in India who would be described as dependent on

40
Alcohol Nation: How to protect our children from today's drinking culture, By Aric Sigman
41
Alcoholism in India, www.alcoholrehab.com

132
alcohol and in need of help. Another concern is the increasing tendency to

engage in binge drinking where people deliberately become intoxicated42.

The accurate number of alcoholic is not available in the North Eastern

part of India. However, it is a phenomenon that alcohol abuse exists in all the

states of North East. Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram have banned the

manufacture, sale and use of liquor while Mizoram has recently repealed the

Act of Prohibition. It is evident that there are large numbers of alcoholics in the

North Eastern region of India43. Nagaland Minister for Health and Family

Welfare revealed that there are estimated 40,000 drug users in the state.

according to the available data, has 10,682 addicts, but it is believed to be much

more. Of these 5958 drug addicts, some 934 are street children or juveniles and

216 sex workers. Another report shows the data that there are around 27000

Injecting Drug Users44.

NORTH INDIA

According to a survey sponsored by United Nations Drug Control

Programme (UNDCP) there are 70000 drug addicts in Kashmir division alone

42
Alcoholism in India - Drug and Alcohol Rehab Thailand, www.alcoholrehab.com
43
consequences and social Implications of addictions, Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
44
Pattern of Substance Abuse, Sexual Behavior and its Determinants, among Unmarried
Youth in India, By Jeetendra Yadav, Kusum Bharati & Kh Jitenkumar Singh,National
Institute of Medical Statistics (ICMR), India

133
including 4000 women? As per recent survey, 65 to 70% students in Kashmir

are drug addicts who include gateway drugs too and around 26% female

students. As per Government Psychiatric Disease Hospital (GPDH) statistics

90% abusers belong to the age group of 17 to 35 years with a lifetime

prevalence of drug addiction. Kashmir as it is known for its attraction for tourist

and migrant labourers which increase rate of different drug use among drug

addicts. Easy availability and lack of accountability from parent gateway drugs

like cigarette, Paan, Gutka etc are commonly used by young male aging 12 to

15 years45.

In the article about drug abuse in Punjab “Farm Labour, teenagers worst

hit by drug abuse” reported that when villages receive coded message “Jahaj aa

gaya hai” it brings cheer to drug addicts who live in small village in the Malwa

belt. Bordering Rajasthan, this village has nearly 70 percent of its population,

including men, women and boys, addicted to bhukki (poppy husk). Immediately

after the word spreads, the addicts make a beeline for the venue from where

they are going to draw their daily or weekly quota of bhukki. To avoid detection

by the police and other government agencies, the venue is changed frequently.

The couriers bring the supplies in either trucks or tractor-trailers concealing the

45
The menace of drug addiction in Jammu and Kashmir by Simrit Kahlon on Wednesday,
March 5th, 2014

134
bags of bhukki among those of vegetables, fruit or farm inputs. Bhukki is

addiction of poor man. The main source of its supply in Punjab is Rajasthan and

Madhya Pradesh, where the cultivation of opium is licensed. Addicts take either

“chura” (ground husk) with water or boil bhukki in water and drink the “kadah”

(concentrate).

A recent study by the Chandigarh-based Development and

Communication Institute revealed that 61 percent of the families affected by the

drug addiction was 61 in Majha, 64 in Malwa and 68 in Doaba. In Rajasthan,

Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, there are Opium and Bhukki are sold

authorized shops. Realizing that there is a prosperous market in Punjab; Many

Rajasthani vendors have opened their shops near the Punjab border. “Though

we put up nakas to prevent people from bringing the contraband from Rajasthan

or Haryana, many manage to conceal it in their undergarments,” says a police

officer who had a stint in Aboohar and Fazilka. “Abuser do not miss any

opportunity. They often make trips to the shop, where there is some laxity or

lack of investigation on the border due to the deployment of force elsewhere. If

one brings in say 5 kg of bhukki, he or she ends up saving Rs 1,000 besides

getting his or her supply of the drugs for a week. Though the rate in Rajasthan

varies between Rs. 180 and Rs. 220 a kg, it is between Rs. 450 and Rs. 500 a kg

135
in Punjab. Speaking on the condition of not printing a police officer's name, it

says that the lower middle class people are generally addicted to opium, charas

and ganja. In the case of the areas of the institute, the colleges say that in the

demand of students in the state are smack and psychotropic drugs besides cough

syrups. Girls are no exception. During the elections, hunger becomes the most

demanded "restricted", it must be for the Gram Panchayat, Block Committee,

District Council, Assembly or Lok Sabha. In the recent Vidhan Sabha elections

of Punjab in alcohol was sold on mobile shops at prices getting lower day by

day while the prices of vegetables were shooting up day by day. Although

Bhuki is occupying rural Punjab, alcohol, skype,heroin and

various,pharmaceuticals, and has replaced traditional medicines in more affluent

urban areas. Injection pharmaceuticals are wreaking havoc in rural areas of the

65 AIDS deaths reported from Patti tehseel in Amritsar during the past few

years, At least 50 percent of the victims were likely to be drug addicts. It was

the continuous use of this single needle to inject drugs for the spread of deadly

disease. 46

It is also true that multipurpose rise in beer prices, including beer, can

encourage the consumption of inexpensive medicines such as Bhukki, Charas

and Hemp in addition to psychoactive and sedative drugs by urban youth

46
Singh, P. 2006. Farm Labour, teenagers worst hit by drug abuse, The Tribune News Service

136
affordable and availability is an important factor.

Punjab is now witnessing a major thrust in addressing the problem of

drug dependence and as new de-addiction centres are coming up in the state,

newer trends and patterns of opioid abuse are coming forth, much to the surprise

of mental health professionals. Bhukki is the most common substance of abuse

in patients seeking treatment in these centres. One previous case study has

reported that mean consumption of bhukki per person was 2.453 kg per

month47. The current case is unique because such a high dose of Bhukki abuse

has not been reported before, and it also shows the rapid transition from low

amount to such a huge quantity of bhukki consumption. This rapid and expected

transition from onset to dependence in opioid use has been observed in earlier

studies also48. This transition carries a dire prognosis with a 2% risk of dying

every year and a high mortality rate of about 50% in a 30 year follow-up and

also corroborated by a 20 year follow-up study49. This remains a major concern

in such persons who continue to abuse substance knowing well the physical,

psychological, social, occupational and legal implications of it.

47
Kalra I, Bansal PD. Sociodemographic Profile and Pattern of Drug abuse among patients
presenting to a Deaddiction Centre in rural area of Punjab. Delhi Psychiatry J 2012;
15(2). 327- 31.
48
Chavan BS, Arun P, Bhargava R, Singh GP. Prevalence of alcohol and drug dependence in
rural and slum population of Chandigarh: A community survey. Indian J Psychiatry 2007;
49: 44–8
49
Vaillant GE. A 20 year follow-up of New York narcotic addicts. Arch Gen Psychiatry
1973; 29: 237–41

137
 An assessment of untreated opioid dependence needs to consider four

dimensions: harm to physical health, harm to mental health, intermediate-level

harm to personal and social relationships, and broader harm determined by

societal and cultural reaction to drug use50.

With such cases consuming extraordinary quantities of substance coming

into light, it necessitates a more constructive and thorough approach. Such

persons require years of supervised rehabilitation and reconstructive

mechanism. With the introduction of newer de-addiction and rehabilitation

centres in the state and recruiting mental health professionals, much remains to

be done on the ground. Thus, there is a need for periodic surveys to determine

changing prevalence and incidence of substance use. Psychosocial interventions

disappointingly attracted little research and much more needs to be done. A

more coherent policy involving centre government, state government, law

enforcement agencies, mental health professionals and NGO’s must be in place.

To know course and outcome in such unusual cases, studies with long term

50
Harwood HJ. Societal costs of heroin addiction. National Institutes of Health. NIH
Consensus Development Conference on Effective Medical Treatment of Heroin
Addiction, Bethesda, Maryland, November 17-19, 1997. Washington, DC: National
Institutes of Health, 1998; 53-6

138
follow-up are required51.

An accurate understanding of the nature and extent of substance and

alcohol abuse by young people is critical to the development of evidence-based

responses. The level of understanding of youth substance use worldwide, but

many gaps still remain. Many countries are conducting broad surveys using

methodology that allows comparison; however, a much greater number are

using methods and measures that make comparison difficult. Some countries

carry out broad population drug-use surveys of persons aged 15 years and

above, and this allows analysis of use among at least a portion of youth. These

broad surveys require substantial resources, so many countries do not conduct

national school or population studies on a regular basis52.

According to a study, it has been found that approximately 200,000 drug

injecting related deaths can be estimated based on the estimated size of the

current world population of injecting drug abusers of at least 5.3 million 53.

World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a multi-fold increase in drug-

51
A Case Report on Poppy Husk Abuse in Punjab: Emerging Trends of Consumption of
Large Quantities Prabhdeep Singh, Balwant S Sidhu, Arun Bansal Department of
Psychiatry, Government Medical College, Patiala, DELHI PSYCHIATRY JOURNAL
Vol. 18 No. 1 APRIL 2015
52
World Youth Report 2003: The Global Situation of Young People, United Nations. Dept. of
Economic and Social Affairs - ‎2004
53
Social impact of drug abuse, UNODC, www.unodc.org

139
related deaths over the past decade occurred. The yearly mortality rates or

"lethal impact" among intravenous drug users or drug addicts on treatment

programmes ranged between one and two percent which primarily transpired in

the younger generations. In addition to its adverse effects on health, injury and

eventual death, drugs is among the most prevalent associated with HIV/AIDS

(Room et al., 2005), This social problem requires primary health and structural

reforms to enhance the level of treatment, rehabilitation and prevention54.

INCIDENCE OF DRUG ABUSE

There are many surveys and studies that highlight the diffusion of various

drugs. Many surveys and news outcomes have shown that the spread of drug

addiction is increasing rapidly, which is affecting the college and university

campuses in the country and in addition to every part of the society. There is

also a wide impact rate of drug abuse and alcohol. If we talk about students,

then it is often considered that students are pursued with the use of nursery

drugs. Students pursuing professional courses may be equally susceptible.

Interestingly, the extent of drug use or alcohol limit among medical students is

important. Due to the use of drugs among both rural and urban populations,

54
As an intoxicant, ethanol impairs physical coordination, and also affects thinking and
judgement. Eckardt et al.1998; Room et al. 2005).

140
their number has increased further. Which has been exposed in several studies;

Even the tribal’s are also abusing the drugs.

Some recent estimates of the prevalence rate among youths are available.

Ministry of Social Welfare of the Government of India launched a multi-centre

research programme covering several urban centres including Bombay, Delhi,

Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chennai and Varanasi.

The proportion of the youths who had reportedly never experimented

with psychotropic drugs was highest in metro cities, followed by Delhi,

Mumbai, Jaipur, Chennai and others. Perhaps the social milieu in these urban

centres discouraged the use of habit-forming drugs. Jabalpur had the largest

proportion of the students who experimented earlier with drugs but had given up

with no intention to resume. Bombay had the largest proportion (35.5 per cent)

of current users.

Many researches have pointed out that 16-21 years of age are most

important in developing the habit of drug abuse with old age. The main factor in

recognizing the role is that medicines are more common in men than women.

Females were more popular among those who took drugs after favorite alcohol

and cannabis drugs.

141
TRENDS AND PATTERNS OF SUBSTANCE USE

Trends in drug use and abuse are reflected in official reports to the United

Nations and unofficial reports from a variety of sources. There were also major

regional gaps in information in official reporting with respect to the nine year

period 1983-1991. The average percentages of countries actually reporting over

this nine-year period were as follows: in Europe (74%), the Americas (51%),

the Near and Middle East (46%), Asia and the Pacific region (40%) and Africa

(37%). In Africa, in the area of the world where at least countries told the

United Nations, in the last one year, almost one-third of the countries have

reported six or more times in the country. With the absence of systematic

reporting for this area, it becomes even more vulnerable, because trends coming

cannot be assessed or it can be difficult to recognize until they come. 55

The qualitative information understood by UNDCP indicates that most

governments report on the spread of many drugs among men compared to

women. However, the abuse of women is reported to increase, which is often

responsible for its recent benefits of entering the labor market. Although misuse

55
THE‎SOCIAL IMPACT‎OF DRUG ABUSE,‎This study was originally prepared‎by
UNDCP as a position paper‎for the World Summit for Social Development‎(Copenhagen,
6-12 March 1995)

142
of drugs is common in all age groups, it occurs more frequently in young adults

in most countries of the United States and Eastern Europe, an increase in the

demand for illegal drugs was mentioned, where these areas have socio-

economic crisis Was affected by the credit and, in particular, high

unemployment.‎

Substance dependence is showing a rising trend all over the world and

these disorders are rapidly recognized throughout India.56 According to World

Drug Report (2009) India holds the largest opiate-using population in South

Asia, estimated at around 3.2 million57. In Punjab, opioid dependence increased

with the advent of the Green Revolution in the state. Industrialisation in the

country opened more routes for Punjabi truck drivers and they took poppy husk

and opium as they felt it helped them in driving for longer hours. Reports by the

UNODC have shown that there has been a global increase in the production,

transportation and consumption of opioids58. But, in recent times, new synthetic

substances have been added to the list of drugs with abuse potential and more

and more individuals have shifted to cheap, easily available and probably
56
Murthy P. Psychosocial interventions for‎persons with substance abuse: Theory
and‎practice. De-addiction centre, National institute‎of mental health and
neu ]rosciences‎(NIMHANS). NIMHANS publication No. 64:‎Bangalore National
Printing Press, 2007
57
World Drug Report 2009: United Nations Office‎on Drugs and Crime
http:/www.unodc.org
58
World Drug Report 2011: United Nations Office‎on Drugs and Crime
http:/www.unodc.org

143
adulterated form of substances. No population based survey is available which

covers this complex shift of the substance use across time. One important

source of data that can capture the shifting patterns is from established de-

addiction centres59. “Bhukki” (poppy husk) has been called the poor man’s

addiction. Its main source of supply in Punjab is Rajasthan and Madhya

Pradesh, where the cultivation of poppy is licensed. It is seen that the number of

people abusing opium has decreased, while the number of people using poppy

husk has increased60. With the recent police crackdown on bhukki smugglers

leading to disruption of supply, thousands now are seeking de-addiction

treatment. Majority of individuals seeking treatment at various de-addiction

centres have reported monthly consumption of bhukki between 1kg to 5kg. But

individuals reporting with consumption of bhukki as much as 15kg per month

necessitate addressing further research and planning effective management

strategies as it is bound to have ominous implications for person’s well being.

SUBSTANCE USE AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR

Cross-sectional and longitudinal research on the relationship between

alcohol and sexual exposure is shown to different organizations, across a variety

59
Basu D, Mattoo SK. Epidemiology of substance‎abuse in India: methodological issues and
future‎perspectives. Indian J Psychiatry 1999; 41: 145-‎53
60
Sachdev JS, Yakhmi RS, Sharma AK. Changing‎pattern of drug abuse among patients
presenting‎at deaddiction centre at Faridkot. Indian J‎Psychiatry 2002; 44(4): 353-5

144
of situations, age groups and countries.61 Such studies support relationships

between alcohol and early sexual debut62, multiple partners, inconsistent

condom use, or lack of protection during intercourse63. unwanted pregnancies,

and rape, sexual abuse, forced sex, and sexual violence. another research has

shown that alcohol plays a important role in condom use when gender and

partner type are considered . They showed that for women only, condom use

was less likely when alcohol consumption preceded sex with non primary

partners. Heavy alcohol user are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual

behavior, including sex for money. They have more sexual partners, and use

condoms less consistently,64 though these associations are not always consistent.

In India, the results of multivate analysis (binary otologic regression) are

presented in Table 5 to measure the relationship between substance use and pre-

marital sex among youth. Repeat results from this analysis that positive

relationships between the use of substance and before sex before marriage. The

61
Mataure P, McFarland W. Alcohol use and high risk sexual behavior among adolescents
and young adults in Harare, Zimbabwe.AIDS Behav. 2002; 6(3): 211–9 and Ferguson A,
Pere M, Morris C, Ngugi E, Moses S. Sexual patterning and condom use among a
group of HIV vulnerable men in Thika, Kenya. Sex Transm Infect. 2004; 80(6):435–9.
62
Raine TR, et al. Sociodemographic correlates of virginity in seventh-grade black and
Latino students. J Adoles Health. 1999; 24(5): 304–12.
63
MacDonald TK, et al. Alcohol, sexual arousal, and intentions to use condoms in young
men: applying alcohol myopia theory to risky behavior. Health Psychol. 2000; 19(3):290–
8. Dermen KH, Cooper ML. Inhibition conflict and alcohol expectancy as moderators of
alcohol’s relationship to condom use. Exper Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000; 8(2):198–206 .
64
Leigh BC, Stall R. Substance use and risky sexual behavior for exposure to HIV: issues in
methodology, interpretation and prevention. Am Psychol. 1992; 48: 1035–45.

145
youth who were the users of drugs and alcohol, compared to non-alcoholic and

non drug consumers (5.01%), they were already more involved in sexual

(29.89%). There was less likelihood of having sex before marriage (or = 0.251,

CI = 0.225-0.281), which was a user with alcohol than a user having alcohol.65

TABLE 1: Adjusted odds ratio measuring the association between extra

marital sex and selected socio-demographic characteristics (“Youth in India:

Situation and Needs Study,” 2006–08)

Background characteristics Pre marital sex

Yes N Odds ratio 95%CI

65
Pattern of Substance Abuse, Sexual Behavior and its Determinants among Unmarried
Youth in India By Jeetendra Yadav, Kusum Bharati & Kh Jitenkumar Singh

146
 Alcohol consumption ever

Yes 29.89 2934 1.00 ____

No 5.01 42621 0.251 0.225-0.281

Last 4 week alcohol consume

Not at all 22.82 653 1.00 ____

Once or twice in last 4 week 30.63 1270 1.344 1.018-1.773

Once a week 33.04 569 1.363 0.9951.867

More than once a week 35.87 329 1.543 1.082-2.201

Everyday 29.36 109 1.292 0.740-2.254

Usually alcohol drink with peers

group

Yes 30.91 2550 1.00 ____

No 22.87 376 0.746 0.542-1.026

Drink so much (Over dose) alcohol

Never 27.44 1928 1.00 ____

Sometimes 34.76 961 1.293 1.053-1.587

Often 31.43 35 0.727 0.253-2.091

TABLE 2:Prevalence Rates of Drug use by Sex of the

Respondents (Percentage)

147
 Males Females Total

Substance (N= 16,400) N=8,573) (24,973)

Alcohol 13.3 3.4 10.2

Amphetamines 0.6 0.2 0.5

Barbiturates 1.0 0.2 0.7

Cannabis 4.1 0.3 2.8

Cocaine 0.2 0.2 0.1

LSD 0.4 0.05 0.3

Heroin 0.6 0.1 0.3

Analgesics 8.6 9.9 9.2

Pethidine 0.4 0.1 0.3

Tobacco 14.4 1.3 9.9

Tranquillizers 1.8 0.9 1.5

In other studies this indicates that awareness of contraceptives is bad

when the adolescents' approach towards premarital sex are becoming more

148
liberal.66 The percent distribution of premarital sex and adjusted odds ratio

measuring the association between extra marital sex and selected socio-

demographic characteristics have presented. Results reveals form analysis that

the premarital sex (13.6%) was higher among male youth as compared to

female (3.8%) only. The odds of having premarital sex by female were lower

compared to male. Compared to rural youth, the possibility of sex before

marriage was more likely to be between urban youth (OR=0.1.326, CI=0.235-

0.280). There is a positive relationship with marriage before education. On the

other hand, an increase in the educational level, the sex increases before

marriage.

TABLE 3: Prevalence Rates of Drug use by Substance (Percentage) in

66
Verma RK et al., Evaluation of AIDS Prevention Education Programme in Rural
Maharashtra, Mumbai: IIPS, 1995; and Verma RK, Surendra S and Guruswamy M,
What do school children and teachers in rural Maharashtra think of AIDS and sex? Health
Transition Review, 1997, 7(Supplement): 481-485.

149
 India

Bombay Delhi Hyderabad Jabalpur Jaipur Madras Varanasi Total

Substance

(N=4,151) (N=3,991 (N=903) (N=4,415) (N=4,081) (N=3,580) (N=3,852) (N=24,973)

Alcohol 15.1 12.2 8.6 9.4 9.7 9.4 10.4 10.2

Amphetamine 0.2 0.3 0.05 0.2 0.05 0.4 1.3 0.5

Barbiturates 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.4 1.5 1.8 0.7

Cannabis 0.4 1.3 0.8 8.5 0.9 1.5 11.9 2.8

Cocaine 0.05 0.03 0.1 0.2 0.09 - 0.6 0.1

Lsd 0.07 0.2 - 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.9 0.3

Morphine, 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.9 0.4

Heroin 0.4 0.6 0.2 0.4 - - 0.6 0.3

Analgesics 12.6 20.9 2.8 15.1 2.3 1.4 13.8 9.2

Pethidine 0.05 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.05 0.9 0.3

Tobacco 9.1 10.5 5.3 10.8 9.2 15.2 15.1 9.9

Tranquillizers 1.0 2.9 2.6 1.2 1.2 1.1 2.5 1.5

150
 Which psychotropic drugs do the individual incline toward? Table shows

that alcohol (10.2 per cent). The prevalence rate of drug abuse such as

amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, LSD, opiates and pethidine, is relatively

insignificant. It is critical that several modern drugs such as heroin and LSD are

restrictively costly. Yet another fact which deserves notice is that in metro cities

cannabis drugs appear to be broadly used. Finally, although some estimates of

drug use by people in different parts of India are available, similar data are

lacking for other sections of the population.

The regions where these trends for increasing abuse occur are Africa,

Europe (especially eastern Europe) and the Americas (except for the Bahamas,

Canada, Ecuador and the United States of America). In the Asian and Pacific

region, a mixed trend emerged, with as many countries reporting stable or slight

decreases or increases. In the Near and Middle East, increasing abuse was found in

Egypt, Israel, Pakistan and the Syrian Arab Republic. Several States reported

overall decreasing patterns: Bahrain, Iran, Islamic Republic of Kuwait, Qatar and

Saudi Arabia (United Nations Reports, 1993 and 1994). In India opium has been

used for centuries without becoming unduly corrosive to the social fabric67.

67
LaMond Tullis, Illegal Drugs in Nine Countries: Socioeconomic and Political
Consequences, Draft report prepared for UNRISD at Geneva and the United Nations
University at Tokyo, 23 December 1993.

151
ABUSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

In the last decade, the rate of prescription drug abuse among adolescents

has increased dramatically. Prescription drugs are the second most illicit drugs

in adolescents, more than marijuana (Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Service Administration, 2008). Painkillers, depressants and stimulants are often

the most abused medicines. The negative consequences of prescription drug

abuse can be severe. Many teens abuse medicines in combination with alcohol

or other medicines, which increase the risk of adverse consequences. Presently,

this addiction has increased very much.68

While research shows that less than 1 percent of teens take prescription

medications from the internet, to get information about dosage in adolescence,

to identify pills, to know about drug interactions and effects, and to drug abuse

Investigation of Adolescence engages in online chat rooms and blogs are read to

listen to other people's experiences through doctor prescription. This online

drug culture, researchers believe, can contribute to the misconception that most

68
Criminal Justice Essentials, By Sue Titus Reid - 2011

152
misuse misuse of prescription drugs and / or misuse of prescription medication

is relatively risk free.69

Prescription drug abuse by adolescents should be taken as seriously as

alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) abuse. It can lead to increased truancy

and behavioural problems, as well as abuse of ATOD. It can also negatively

affect academic performance. Research and prevention strategies for drug abuse

are underway. In the meantime, parents, teachers, health professionals,

legislators, and most important teenagers must be aware of the abuse of drugs

and its harmful consequences.70

Parents and caregivers may have a huge effect on the behavior of their

children towards prescription drugs. While 60 percent of parents discuss

marijuana "drugs" with their children, "only a few" discuss the risks of one-third

the risk of the inhibition of drugs. When parents talk about drug abuse from

their children, they also need to talk about dealing with the risks of drug abuse.

School is another place where adolescents have access to medicines,

especially since some students are told about medicines that should be taken

during the school day. Administrators and school staff need to ensure that only
69
Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America, Prescription Drug Abuse, 2008
70
Prescription Drug Abuse by Adolescents - PromotePrevent, www.promoteprevent.org

153
those students with prescriptions took medicines in the campus. For the health

risk surveys given to students to understand the spread of misuse of medicines

among students, school leaders and health teachers, questions can be asked

about the drug abuse misuse. Doctors can read health educative readers to help

students understand the dangers of drug abuse and can build students' skills to

avoid the illicit use of medicines.71

Schools, doctor’s clinic, and local pharmacies should collect and

disseminate information about prescription drug abuse to adolescents and their

parents. Such information should address the dangers of prescription drug

abuse; relevant local, state, and national hotlines and online resources; where to

seek treatment; and strategies for parents to use when talking with their children

about prescription drug abuse.

The sale of narcotic analgesic pills is increasing, as is diversion and the

non-medical use of prescription drugs. These drugs are easy to obtain and they

are viewed as “safer” than street drugs. Young adults have the highest rates of

lifetime use of these drugs and fewer teenagers in 2005 thought that there was

great risk in using these drugs, as compared to 2004. Emergency department

visits involving non-medical use of pharmaceuticals usually involve multiple

71
Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America (2008). Teen prescription drug abuse: An
emerging threat. Alexandria, VA: Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America

154
drugs as well as alcohol. And individuals who enter substance abuse treatment

with problems with narcotic analgesics and benzodiazepines differ from heroin

users in their characteristics and their drug use patterns.

A growing problem is the non-medical use of prescription drugs such as

pain killers or narcotic analgesics, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants. Non-

medical use is defined as use of prescription-type drugs that were not prescribed

for the individual by a physician or the drugs were used only for the experience

or feeling they caused. Prescription psychotherapeutic drugs include pain

relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. Pain-relievers of concern

include Percocet, oxycodone (OxyContin , Percodan, or Tylox), hydrocodone

(Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet), and methadone, as well as a number of other drugs.

Benzodiazepines of concern include diazepam (Valium), clonazepam

(Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax, Ativan, or lorazepam). Muscle relaxants which

are abused include cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and carisoprodol (Soma).72

DRINKING CONTEXTS

72
Trends in the Abuse of Prescription Drugs by Jane Carlisle Maxwell, Ph.D.P-1

155
 Drinking to intoxication is yet another established pattern of drinking

among many Indian males73. In many communities, drinking quantities are

rarely measured in standard drinks or pegs, rather, they are calculated in

quarters (about 180 ml), and many young men matter-of-factly report drinking

one or two quarters. Under socialised drinking is an important feature of

drinking among the young in India74. However, with respect to drinking venues,

nearly two-thirds consumed alcohol in liquor-shops, restaurants, bars and

pubs75. Drinking venues like wine shops in contemporary India are venues

where serious drinking occurs- labourers and generally blue-collared workers of

various backgrounds drop in on the way home from work, do their couple of

quarters of drinking and head home.

The majority of adults have used alcohol and a significant minority of

adults have used illicit drugs sometime in their life76. A report, published jointly

by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and India's Ministry of Social Justice

says that millions of Indians are dependent on alcohol, cannabis, and opiates,

73
Mohan D, Sharma HK. India. In: Heath DB (Ed). International handbook on alcohol and
culture. Westport (CT), Greenwood Press, 1995
74
Benegal V, Nayak M, Murthy P, Chandra P, Gururaj G. Women and alcohol in India. In:
Obot I, Room R (Eds). Alcohol, gender and drinking problems. Perspectives from low and
middle income countries. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2005
75
Girish N, Kavita R, Gururaj G, Benegal V. Alcohol use and implications for public health:
patterns of use in four communities. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 35: 238-
244, 2010
76
Ibid

156
and drug misuse is a pervasive phenomenon in Indian society. The report was

completed more than 18 months ago but was only recently published.

A significant proportion of the Indian population is also addicted to

alcohol and other drugs. It is impossible to give any exact estimates of the

number of drug addicts in our country. Nor can one with full confidence

determine the basic question as to whether drug addiction is increasing or

decreasing. But according to surveys and interviews has shown that misusing of

drugs in society especially in youths increasingly very fast. The strong social

denial of the use of appealing drugs and police pressure against drugs and

smugglers is essential to hide themselves from strange or unpleasant eyes due to

drug and drug addiction. Any statistics with respect to the extent of drug

addiction must, therefore, usually be based on apprehended addicts or

prehended users of drugs. If we knew what proportion of drug addicts or users

are arrested every year, we would have a reasonable basis for estimating the

extent of drug addiction in this country. Unfortunately, we do not know the

proportion that arrested drug addicts or drug users bear to the total addict and

user population. Moreover, increases or decreases in the number of arrests are

just as likely to reflect increases or decreases in police activity rather than an

increase or decrease in drug use or drug addiction. Another complication is the

157
fact that a person arrested in the case of drugs is not necessarily addicted, even

if he is so classified by the police. Thus, any statement regarding the limit of

drug addiction and its changes in year-to-year should be seen with great caution.

Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs remove inhibition and

impair judgment egging one on to commit offences. Incidence of group clashes,

eve teasing, assault, sexual violence and impulsive murders increase with drug

abuse. Apart from affecting the financial stability, addiction increases conflicts

and causes of countless emotional pain for every member of the family. With

most drug users being in the productive age group of 18-35 years, the loss in

terms of human potential is incalculable. The damage to the physical,

psychological, moral and intellectual growth of the youth is very high 77.

Adolescent drug abuse is one of the major areas of concern in adolescent and

young people's behaviour. It is estimated that, in India, by the time most boys

reach the ninth grade, about 50 percent of them have tried at least one of the

gateway drugs. However, there is a wide regional variation across states in term

of the incidence of the substance abuse. For example, a larger proportion of

teens in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh use gateway drugs (about 60 percent

77
The Hindu, Tuesday 26 June 2001

158
in both the states) than Uttar Pradesh or Haryana (around 35 percent) 78. Increase

in incidences of HIV, hepatitis B and C and tuberculosis due to addiction adds

the reservoir of infection in the community burdening the health care system

further. Women in India face greater problems from drug abuse. The

consequences include domestic violence and infection with HIV, as well as the

financial burden. Eighty seven per cent of addicts being treated in a de-

addiction centre run by the Delhi police acknowledged being violent with

family members79.

Most of the domestic violence is directed against women and occurs in

the context of demands for money to buy drugs. At the national level, drug

abuse is intrinsically linked with racketeering, conspiracy, corruption, illegal

money transfers, terrorism and violence threatening the very stability of

governments.80

In the national household survey more than 40 000 men and boys (aged 12

to 60 years) were interviewed, while subsidiary studies looked at drug misuse

among women and prison inmates and in rural populations and border areas.

Alcohol, cannabis, opium, and heroin are the major drugs misused in India, says

78
Drug abuse in India, Azad India foundation, www.azadindia.org
79
Ibid
80
Gopalan, Sarala and Shiva, Mira. National profile on women, health and development:
country profile – India. New Delhi: Voluntary Health Association of India; 2000.

159
the report. Buprenorphine, propoxyphene, and heroin are the most commonly

injected drugs.

Applying estimates of prevalence to population figures, the survey

estimated that in India, whose population is just over a billion, 62.5 million

people use alcohol, 8.75 million use cannabis, two million use opiates, and 0.6

million use sedatives or hypnotics. Seventeen per cent to 26% of these people

can be classified as dependent users who need urgent treatment, says the report.

About 25% of users of opiates and cannabis are likely to seek treatment, while

about one in six people who drink alcohol are likely to do so.

“That drug abuse is an exclusively urban phenomenon is a myth,” said

Gary Lewis, the South Asia regional representative of the UN Office on Drugs

and Crime. Injecting drugs and high risk behaviours are seen in urban and rural

areas, he added. Injecting drugs is fairly widespread throughout the country and

not restricted to the northeastern states—the common perception. “It is

interesting to note that the abuse of heroin and IDUs (injecting drug users) were

also reported from rural India,” says the report. Sharing of needles was common

(needles were shared by three injecting drug users, on average), as was unsafe

sex.

160
EXTENT OF DRUG ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM IN

VARIOUS AREAS

ACCULTURATION AND ALCOHOL USE

Heredity is known to face inter-generational conflicts, and the use of

alcohol, tobacco and other drugs can be one of the many results of such

struggles. A review of the study of the United States shows that second-

generation Asian Americans are united in society, they can start using more

alcohol and drugs. However, existing literature has reported a relatively low

rates of drug use among alcohol and Asian Americans. The author argues that in

America, rates of comparatively low rates of alcohol and tobacco among Asian

Americans may be indicative of under-reporting, or protective factors (personal,

family and systemic), which can increase the resistance of alcohol. And other

drug use

In the UK, compared to the local population, alcohol consumption is less

among South Asians. Ethnic ethnicity includes strong religious beliefs with

161
lower levels of alcohol consumption.81 Although the authors have warned that

the expansion can increase over time and focus on language and culture as well

as mainstream treatment can be recommended. 82

ALCOHOL IS THE MOST WIDELY USED SUBSTANCE OF ABUSE

AMONG INDIAN YOUTH

As shown in the 2.2 exhibition, a high percentage of youth in the 8th,

10th and 12th classes used alcohol in the month before being surveyed

compared to the tobacco or marijuana used, the most by the teenagers Illegal

drug used more.

YOUTH START DRINKING AT AN EARLY AGE

Drinking often starts at a very early age indicates that the survey is about:

1. Ten percent of the children between 9 and 10 years have already started

drinking 9 (Donovan et al., 2004).

81
Heim D, Hunter SC, Ross AJ, Bakshi N, Davies JB, Flatley KJ, Meer N. Alcohol
consumption, perceptions of community responses and attitudes to service provision:
results from a survey of Indian, Chinese and Pakistani young people in Greater Glasgow,
Scotland UK. Alcohol & Alcoholism, 39: 220-226, 2008
82
Culture and alcohol use in India Pratima Murthy

162
2. Fifth victim from generation to generation drinks 13 years ago (Eaton et al.,

2010).

3. Peak years of initiation are ranked 7th in the 11th class based on the data of

senior citizens of high school83.

Prescription Medicines, which are widely available and easy to obtain,

provide young people with easy, affordable, affordable way to change their

mental and physical condition. According to misuse of drugs, abusers may

experience increased experience of joy, enthusiasm, drowsiness, increased

energy or various other effects. Young people who abuse the prescription drugs

are at risk of facing dangerous side effects. Prescription drugs - When

prescribed by a physician - Treat various types of mental or physical conditions

successfully, however, when abuse is done, these drugs can change brain

activity and impaired or life-threatening Promotes health problems and

consequently physical or psychological dependence.84

Hazardous effects of drug abuse and alcohol abuse on society In

addition to affecting financial stability, addiction causes and causes of countless

emotional pain for every member of the family. With most drug in the early age

group, loss in terms of human ability is incomparable. The loss of physical,

83
Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2009
84
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Rapid assessment survey of drug abuse in
south Asia 2000.

163
psychological, moral and intellectual development of the youth is very high.

Abuse of adolescent drugs is one of the key areas of concern in the behavior of

teenagers and young people. The use of substances can compromise with the

psychological and emotional development of adolescents, how they are

interfering with how young eople interact and experience.85

Adolescents who use drugs and alcohol are more likely to develop

sexual intercourse than adolescence from adolescence, sexual intercourse at a

young age, and have many sexual partners, making them unplanned pregnancies

and HIV / AIDS, hepatitis C And other sexually transmitted diseases.86

Adolescents who use marijuana weekly of teenagers are likely to be six

times higher than non-users, they report the escape from home, it is likely to be

five times that they steal from other places than the house And the probability of

reporting is four times higher, they physically attack people.87

Drug use in adolescent has increased the crime rate. The addicts resort to

crime to pay for their drugs, block drugs and undermine one for reducing

85
The Impacts of Substance Addictions on Society, September 4, 2012,
www.thecabinchiangmai .com
86
HIV and Hepatitis C,Last Reviewed: July 25, 2017, www.aidsinfo.nih.gov
87
TEEN MARIJUANA USE WORSENS DEPRESSION, An Analysis of Recent Data Shows
“Self-Medicating” Could Actually Make Things Worse, www.ncjrs.gov

164
crimes. Elders, group conflicts, attacks and incidents of murder killings with the

use of substance abuse have been used by adolescents of 12 to 16 years of age,

for some time, marijuana (24 percent vs 1 percent) There is more chance of

selling, compared to an elephant (21 percent vs 7 percent), or a gang (14 percent

2 percent) of youth who have never used marijuana88

The misuse of substances in the psychological and social development

of adolescents can be compromised in areas such as a strong self-identity,

emotional and intellectual development, the establishment of a career, and the

development of the benefits of personal relationships.89

Smoking marijuana can have a negative effect on the mind and body of

the user. It can erode short-term memory and understanding, change the

understanding of time, and reduce the ability to do tasks that require

concentration and coordination, such as evidence from driving a car, also states

that Long-term effects of using marijuana can increase the risk of lung cancer

and other chronic lung disorders, head and neck cancer, sterility in men, and

88
Drug abuse in the Indian youth, By Mansi Jariwala, Apr 12, 2017, www.linkedin.com
89
Social and Cultural Aspects of Drug Abuse in Adolescents by R.C. Jiloha, DELHI
PSYCHIATRY JOURNAL Vol. 12 No.2, 2009

165
infertility in women.90

At the age of the first person who drinks alcohol, the person is more

likely to use alcohol to develop a disorder. A person who drinks alcohol at the

age of 13 years, compared to developing alcohol dependence for some time in

his life four times is more than that which starts drinking at the age of 20.91

India has braced itself in the face of the threat of drug trafficking at

national and international levels. Many measures have been implemented

regarding implementation, new and innovative changes in legal and judicial

systems. The introduction of death penalty for drug-related offences has been a

major deterrent. The Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985,

has enacted with stringent provisions to prevent this danger. The Act has a

concept of minimum 10 years imprisonment extendable to 20 years and fine of

Rs. 1 lakh extendable up to Rs. 2 lakhs for the offenders. Further amendment

has been made in the Act by making provisions for forfeiture properties

obtained from trafficking of illegal drugs. A comprehensive strategy has been

developed to include specific programs for the overall reduction in the use of

90
O’Shea, M., Singh, M. E., McGregor, I. S., & Mallet, P. E. (2004). Chronic cannabinoid
exposure produces lasting memory impairment and increased anxiety in adolescent but not
adult rats. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 18(4), 502-508.
91
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention
and Control (NCIPC). Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System
(WISQARS), 2007 Alcohol alert, Underage drinking, Number 67, January 2007

166
medicines developed by various government agencies and non-government

organizations and it has been supplemented by further measures such as

education, consultation, treatment and rehabilitation programs. India has

bilateral agreements on drug trafficking with 13 countries, including Pakistan

and Burma. Prior to 1999, extradition between India and the United States

occurred under the auspices of a 1931 treaty signed by the United States and the

United Kingdom, which was made applicable to India in 1942. However, a new

extradition treaty between India and the United States entered into force in July

1999. A Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty was signed by India and the United

States in October 2001.92

It is not uncommon for alcohol to be used as remuneration or gift. The

Sunderbans study93 reported that alcohol can be used as remuneration to an

agricultural worker, as payment to a skilled traditional healer, as an

accompaniment to monetary wages, particularly weekly wages. Increased

disposable income has also led to an increase in drinking94.

92
A study of drugs and substance abuse among adolescent of slum dewellers, The
International Journal of Indian Psychology, Volume 3, Issue 4, No. 58
93
Chowdhury AN, Ramakrishna J, Chakraborty AK, Weiss MG. Cultural context and impact
of alcohol use in the Sundarban delta, West Bengal, India. Social Science & Medicine,
63: 722-731, 2006
94
Nagpal S. Food security in the Hindukush Himalaya. Economic and political weekly, 34:
2717-2720,1999

167
 In the Indian army, alcohol is available at a highly subsidized through

army canteen store departments whose ‘onerous responsibility is to provide

goods and liquors at a cheaper rate than the prevailing market rates to the

troops’95.

Alcohol use is also well recognized with some risk occupations or the

unpleasant nature of the work. The divers of Benares who went under water to

salvage coins thrown into the river by pilgrims said they drank to keep their

bodies warm under water and to improve their power and courage.96 An

electrician who reports that he can not work without using alcohol. In every job

he feels insecure to himself. A corporation worker who reports that he is unable

to clean sewage without the use of alcohol.

Although many research shows that in India, the use of alcohol, tobacco

and other narcotics between trainees physician is more than the West 97, This

area is not adequately investigate and neither has the Medical Council of India

nor the Indian Medical Association mentioned it as a problem nor has made any

rule.

95
Wikipedia. Canteen Stores Department (India).Available on the Internet at:
www.wikipedia.org, Accessed on February 27, 2015
96
Doron A. The intoxicated poor: alcohol, morality and power among the boatmen of
Banaras. South Asian History & Culture, 1: 282-300, 2010
97
Seshadri S. Substance abuse among medical students and doctors: a call for action. The
National Medical Journal of India, 21: 57- 59, 2008

168
 Thus, in the context of the situation, drinking work is becoming a

common social function or commonplace and is being increasingly being

recognized as part of work culture, lifestyle, family life and entertainment.98 For

this, it is important that in the transitional cultures like India, more research will

be done in the new cultural drivers for drinking.

EXTENT OF DRUG ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM IN WOMEN

Today, many women in our country use drugs. Women of all ages, races

and cultures Women, just like your best friend, your sister, your co-worker, or

your daughter, Women just like you. Drug abuse is a serious, continuing illness.

There are no easy cures. Women who try to quit sometimes fail at first. But help

is available to overcome the illness of drug abuse. Women who use drugs do not

have to face the problem alone.

FACTS ABOUT WOMEN AND DRUG ABUSE

 Above 9 million women have used illegal drugs in the past year.

 Above 3.7 million women have taken prescription drugs non

medically during the past year.

98
The Hindu. Slight drop in beer sales in AP. The Hindu, May 3, 2006,
www.thehindubusinessline .com/todays-paper - article1732589. ece , Retrieved on
February 27, 2015

169
 More than 2800 of the AIDS cases among women are drug-related.

 Almost half of all women age 15 - 44 have used drugs at least once in

their life. Of these women, nearly thousands have used cocaine and more

than 6 million have used marijuana within the past year. Most women

drug abusers use more than one drug.

To understand drug use by pregnant women, the National Institute on Drug

Abuse (NIDA) has been studying treatment for women to develop the most

effective approaches. One project, "Prenatal 10," is looking at the effects of

treatment, medical care, and support services for pregnant women.

Women can become addict quickly to some drugs, such as crack cocaine,

as long as they seek help, it can be difficult to treat their intoxication. Women

who use drugs often suffer from other serious health problems, sexually

transmitted diseases, and mental health problems, such as depression.

Many women using drugs are worried. many researches have shown that

at least 70 percent of women have been sexually abused by the age of 18 years

and in many research, it has been reported that women were already using

alcohol or drugs before the age of 18. Most of these women had at least one

parent who was suffering from alcohol or drugs. Often, those who use drugs,

they feel low self-esteem, little confidence and less power. They often feel

170
lonely and are separated from the support network. Women from certain

cultural backgrounds or who have difficulty with the English language may not

know how to find help for their addiction.99

Women who use drugs risk becoming infected with HIV, the virus that

causes AIDS. The virus can be spread through needles used to inject drugs.

Therefore, women who inject drugs and share needles are especially at risk.100

The AIDS virus is also spread through sexual contact. Women who have

sex with men who inject drugs are at great risk. Between 1990 and 1991, AIDS

cases among women rose 17 percent. Today, almost 70 percent of AIDS cases

in women are related to either injecting drugs or having sex with a man who

injects drugs.

AIDS is now the fourth leading cause of death among women. When a

pregnant woman uses drugs, she and her unborn child have to face serious

health problems. During pregnancy, use of drugs by the mother can enter the

baby's bloodstream, the most serious effects on HIV are HIV infection, AIDS,

99
Mental Health: Culture, Race, and Ethnicity: A Supplement to Mental Health: A Report of
the Surgeon General. Chapter 2 Culture Counts: The Influence of Culture and Society on
Mental Health, Rockville (MD) Aug 2010
100
Drug Use and Viral Infections (HIV, Hepatitis) March 2017, www.drugabuse.gov

171
Prematurity, low birth weight, sudden infant mortality syndrome, small head

size, obstruction, poor motor skills and behavior Problems can occur.

If mother's continuing drug use puts her children at risk for neglect,

physical abuse, and malnutrition. However, NIDA research shows that

providing care and treatment to the pregnant substance abuser can reduce many

negative effects on her child.

Studies have shown that more than 4 million women need treatment for

drug abuse. Unfortunately, there are many important reasons that women do not

seek help. Some women may not be able to find child care. Or they fear that the

authorities may take away their children. Some women fear they will be

punished if they admit their drug addiction. Many women fear violence with

their husbands, lover or colleagues.101

While alcohol rates among women in India has traditionally been low at

less than 5% (Mohan emerging markets), more recent research studies suggest

prevalence rates ranging from 5.8% to 10% in different parts of India 102. While

social drinking among the more affluent women is also on the rise, the reasons

101
World Health Organization. Health situation in South-East Asia Region 1994-97. New
Delhi: WHO Regional Office for South- East Asia; 1999. Document No. SEA/HS/209.
102
Culture and alcohol use in India‎(Pratima Murthy),‎and Benegal V. India: alcohol and
public health. Addiction, 100: 1051-1056, 2005

172
for the use of alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs among women are often closely

tied to psychological distress and poor social support. Women in general do not

frequent the drinking venues normally frequented by men, and generally send

others, including young children, to the alcohol shops to procure alcohol. In

urban contexts, women frequent bars generally in the company of men.

Treatment services for women with alcohol and other drug use disorders are

practically non -existent in India, although a slow but definitely increasing

number of women are seen entering treatment. The impact of substance use is

compounded in such women with substance use among their partners, and needs

to be viewed on the background of gender and social disadvantage. Emerging

reports of the foetal alcohol syndrome also reflects the social reality of

increasing alcohol use among women, including pregnant women. An

interesting observation in this study was that some of the women were initiated

to drink after the birth of the first-born, to ward off ‘janni’ (spirit possession),

leading to fetal alcohol syndrome in the subsequent pregnancy.

Responsibility towards the drinking of women is also seen by some right

wing groups because of the moral decline and examples of 'moral control' by

such workers in the Pub have made national headlines103. For women, physical,

103
Indian Express. Taliban’s style in BJP’s Karnataka. Moral police assault girls in pub. The
Indian Express, Jan 26, 2009, Available on the Internet at: on 27 February, 2015

173
psychological and social consequences of alcohol and other narcotics are often

worse because the stigment keeps the problem underground and the problems

are increased as long as they receive treatment.104

DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND JUVENILE

Alcohol has a negative effect on the health, it can damage every part of

your body including developing brain of your child. This motor impacts on

coordination, impulse control, memory and judgment

In addition to its negative effects on health, alcohol consumption among

youth has strong links with violence, risky sexual behavior, poor academic

performance, alcohol related driving incidents and other harmful behaviors.105

Use of alcohol is also linked to death of youth due to drowning, suicide and

homicide 106.

According to the Global level report of Alcohol and Health (WHO)

2011, 6.2% of the total male deaths are due to alcohol, while 1.1% compared to

female deaths. Compared to men, there is a high rate of total burden for alcohol

- 7.4% for men compared to 1.4% for women. The number of women in men's
104
Murthy 2013
105
National public education campaign Under Way To Reduce Underage Drinking Substance
Abuse and mental health,.www.captchasolution.
106
The facts about youth and alcohol,www.pubs.niaaa.nih.gov

174
heavy drinking weekly episodes is one in four - due to their high mortality rate

and disability rate. The rate of abstinence compared to men is very low in

women. Low socio-economic status and educational level result in higher risk

of death related to alcohol, illness and injury - a social determinant which is

more for men than women. The harmful use of alcohol is a particularly serious

threat to men. This is the main risk factor for death at 15-59 years of age,

mainly due to injuries, violence and cardiovascular diseases. Globally, 6.2% of

total male deaths are due to alcohol, while 1.1% compared to female death. Men

too have a high rate of total burden responsible for alcohol, approximately 3.2%

of all deaths are attributed to alcohol, and the result is a total of 4% (58

million)107. For Southeast Asian countries, WHO estimates that a quarter of the

male population drinks one-third of the alcohol. This trend is growing rapidly

among women108

According to the Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health (WHO)

2014, 7.6% of total male deaths were due to alcohol, while 4.0% compared to

female deaths. Compared to men, the maximum rate of the total weight of the

disease expressed in disability-adjusted life time (DALAI) due to alcohol is

higher - 7.4% for men and 2.3% for women. The increased burden of disease

107
Alcohol and injuries: india, vivek benegal - national institute of mental health and
neurosciences bangalore, karnataka, India
108
Global status report on alcohol and health (WHO) 2014

175
among men has been explained to a large extent by the fact that compared to

women, men often consume less, drink more often and in large quantities.

Globally, the world's scenario statistics are serious; Around 190 million

people worldwide take drugs or alcohol because of drug addiction because

illegal production and distribution of heavy human crises and causes of crime

and violence across the world. Today, there is no part of the world that is free of

drug trafficking and drug addiction. A miserable life is moving forward between

millions of drugs all over the world, between life and death.109. Factors

associated with behavior and lifestyle can be psychological factors, increased

use of tobacco, abuse of alcohol, lack of physical activity, high-risk sexual

behavior, and many others, can lead to disease, inefficiency and low-quality

life. Contribute to the extent110. In the study of drug use among medical and

paramedical personnel in Patiala, Punjab, it was found that the total situation of

drug abuse was 77.81%, which is 82.5% in medical professionals, 55.31% in

nursing staff and paramedical personnel 18.25%. The most common medicines

used by medical staff are alcohol (70%), tranquilizers (49%), sedatives (43%)

and tobacco (37%). Other medicines are stimulants (27.8%), hemp (26.8%),

narcotics (10.3%), opium (7.3%), inhalants (5%) and heliuminsons (1%). The

109
SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN INDIA , Ahmad Nadeem, Bano Rubeena, Agarwal V.K.,
Kalakoti Piyush, Pravara Med Rev 2009; 1(4)
110
Ibid

176
nursing staff were transquisites (46.8%), sedative (25.53%), alcohol (8.51%),

hemp (8.51%), narcotics (6.38%) and tobacco (2.12%). Among paramedical

personnel the rugs used were alcohol (66.67%), tranquilizers (39.58%),

sedatives (33.33%), bhang (22.91%), tobacco (14.58%), opium (12.5%),

stimulants (4.16%), narcotics (4.16%) and cocaine (4.16%)111.

Chidren substance abuse is associated with declining grades,

absenteeism from school, and dropping out of school. Cognitive and behavioral

problems experienced by teens abusing substances may interfere with their

academic performance112.

Did you know that alcohol is the No-1 drug of choice for children and

adolescents?

The seriousness of this problem is seen in the numbers: Children who

drink alcohol before the age of 15 years are five times more likely than those

who start after age 21 to have alcohol problems as adults.About 10.8 millio

underage persons aged 12 to 20 years (almost 30 percent) reported drinking

alcohol in the past month. That's more than the total population of Michigan,

111
An Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Drug, , Dependence in a Village of district
Sangrur, Punjab Mahi RK, Sharma A, Sharma KC, Sidhu BS, Departments of Psychiatry,
MMIMSR, Mullana, Ambala and Government Medical College, Patiala
112
Evidence-Based Practice with Emotionally Troubled Children and Adolescents

177
 the 8th largest State. Or think of it this way--that's about one of every four

children between the ages of 14 and 19.

FACTORS DETERMINING DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS AND

CHILDERN

Peer group influence, Absence of Self-Confidence, Reduction of Stress

and Frustration. Academic Rigour, Curiosity and Search for Excitement.

EXTENT OF DRUG ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM IN PRISONS

Indian jails are now facing new trouble in the form of HIV because of

rampant drug abuse and unsafe sexual practices amongst prisoners. Authorities

are worried that this might spiral into a crisis as in India prisoners are rarely

monitored. They are not under any HIV prevention programme and once

released from jail, they often go on to pass the disease to their spouses113.

Tihar Jail is one of the high protected and high profile prison in the

country, but even here drugs manage to find their way in Sunil Kumar, law

officer and PRO at Tihar Prison said, it is very difficult, because drugs has been

supply by the relatives of prisoner with the help of security guards. This shows

113
Indian prisons become HIV haven,New delhi Friday 27 June 2008 www.unodc.org

178
that the prison in India is also in the grip of drugs. According to another study,

there are many prisons in India where drug business is running without fear.

Drugs do come in.", A prisoner said that he had seen many people share one

needle to do drugs114.

Drug abuse in Indian prisons has always been a deeply secret but

officials are worried because HIV is spreading due to infected needles only to

make prisoners more susceptible to connecting homosexuality and impotence.

At present there are more than 3 lakh prisoners across Indian jails, multiply this

by 10, because that's what officials say the annual turnover is. This means that

at least 3 million people go out and out in Indian prisons every year - they are at

high risk for HIV - they become high risk for the people they interact with.115

But the irony is that in spite of efforts to spread awareness among prisoners

there is no improvement. In the past, we tried to start condom delivery but some

prisoners and officials opposed it, they feel that we are promoting sex in the

jails. But the situation is currently telling something else. It's a catch 22 for the

jail authorities but there is an issue which can not be further ignored. Some time

ago five prisoners in Tihar conducted a positive test for HIV.

114
Ibid
115
Ibid

179
 Delhi Prisons have taken a major initiative in the field of management of

drug abusers / addicts by setting up a 120-bedded De-addiction Centre (DAC) in

the year 2007. All inmates, who are reported to be drug addicts, are identified

on the very first day of their admission and directly sent to DAC where they are

initially treated for withdrawal symptoms and after detoxification process is

over, they are sent to specially earmarked Rehabilitation Wards, for further

counseling and rehabilitation. All prisoners, who are informed of narcotics, are

identified on the first day of their admission and are sent directly to the DAC,

where they are initially treated for withdrawal symptoms and the detoxification

process is over After them, special advisor rehabilitation wards are sent, for

further consultation and rehabilitation.116

Apart from detoxification, which is done in DAC under medical

supervision, rehabilitation and prevention of re-addiction is an important

component where NGOs are playing a very vital role in Tihar Jail. Four NGOs,

namely, "Aasra", "India Vision Foundation", "AIDS Awareness Group" and

"Divyajyoti" are working for rehabilitation of drug addicts.117

Tihar Jail administration has compiled a list of drugs, which are currently

lodged in jail and on perusal of data is also available, It is found that most of

these drug addicts are repeaters and mainly arrested for minor offences such as,
116
Drug de addiction centre and tihar jail, Delhi.gov.in
117
Medical Care and Hospital Administration - Delhi.gov.in

180
theft, robbery and snatching etc. Most of these drug addicts are either

vagabonds or jhuggi dwellers. Undoubtedly, almost 95% of them belong to

lower strata of society and some of them are working as labourers / rickshaw

pullers / truck drivers etc. Most drug addicts spent all their earnings for the

purchase of drugs and those who are not working, commit crime to meet their

need of drug addiction.118 A large number of these drug addicts are addicted to

drugs for more than 10 years.119

PREVALENCE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND DRIVING

One reason for alcohol and drug misuse has been made in the form of

important risk factors for road accidents and domestic violence across the

world. Its role in drugs and alcohol in violence and road accidents has been the

subject of research in Western countries in Europe, Australia, Canada and the

United States and now in India.120 Many studies have shown that compared to

the general population, the injured drivers used alcohol and especially cannabis,

opiates and benzodiazepines. Between 1991 and 2010, a study of South

European countries found that 50% of those killed in road accidents showed

118
Department of Tihar Prisons - Delhi.gov.in
119
http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/treatment/en/index.html.
120
P Mura, P Kintz, B Ludes, JM Gaulier, P Marquet, S Martin-Dupont, Comparison of the
prevalence of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs between 900 injured drivers and 900
control subjects: results of a French collaborative study Forensic Sci Int 2003, 113:79-85.

181
some types of psychoactive substance in their body. Among them alcohol was

more frequently detected substance (43.8%) followed by cocaine (5.2%),

opioids (3.2%) and cannabis (2.2%)121. Another study from Australia found

29% of all drivers were positive for alcohol with BAC ≥0.05 gm/dL, 23.5% for

psychotropic drugs particularly cannabis (13.5%), opioid (4.9%) and

benzodiazepines (4.1%)122.

According to my knowledge, it has not been published in any Indian

study so far, which is the report of the use of alcohol and drugs about injured

drivers. Regardless of the well-known fact that alcohol and drug addiction

increases the risk of road accidents, there is little knowledge about circulation,

patterns and the type of drug used in drivers in India. The researcher also

examined the abuse of alcohol and generally psychoactive drugs in this research

(opiates, cannabis and benzodiazepines) in injured drivers brought to the trauma

centre, Chandigarh, India123. All deaths from traffic accidents are related to

alcohol intoxication or influence of other drugs, and an estimated 18% of

drivers age 16 to 20 (or 2.5 million adolescents) drive under the influence of
121
MC Del Rio, J Gomez, M Sancho, FJ Alvarez, Alcohol, illicit drugs and medicinal drugs
in fatally injured drivers in Spain between 1991 and 2000 Forensic Sci Int 2002 127:63-
70.
122
OH Drummer, J Gerostamoulos, H Batziris, M Chu, JR Caplehorn, MD Robertson, The
incidence of drugs in drivers killed in Australian road traffic crashes. Forensic Sci Int 2003
134:154-62
123
Alcohol and Drug Use in Injured Drivers – An Emergency Room Study in a Regional
Tertiary Care Centre of North West India.By Senthil Kumar

182
alcohol124.

All 54.5% of injured drivers were positive for alcohol and / or drug use.

Among the drivers involved in road traffic accidents, the most reputable

substance was alcohol (40.5%). Opiate was the most malignant drug (13%) and

the spread of medicines of cannabis and benzodiazepine groups was 7% each.

About 11.5% of the drivers showed more than one substance in their urine125.

Most positive cases were of the age group of 25-34 years (61.5%),

followed by 18-24 years (57.4%). 60% of the age group of 18-34 years proved

positive for their psychological substances in urine. Most cases of alcohol and

opiates (48.2% and 14.3%) were of 18-34 age group, while the majority of

drivers for THC and benzodiazepine belongs to 55 years old. 57% of male

drivers found positive for alcohol and / or narcotics, while only 9% female

drivers found positive126.

DRUGS ALCOHOL AND VIOLENCE

124
DrugFacts: Drugged Driving | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
www.drugabuse.gov
125
A Seymour, JS Oliver, Role of drugs and alcohol in impaired drivers and fatally injured
drivers in the Strathclyde police region of Scotland, 1995-1998 Forensic Sci Int 1999
103(2):89-100.
126
SA Legrand, S Houwing, M Hagenzieker, AG Verstraete, Prevalence of alcohol and other
psychoactive substances in injured drivers: comparison between Belgium and the
NetherlandsForensic Sci Int 2014 220(1):224-31

183
 The use of alcohol and drugs can be the main reason for any violence

because they act as dissident agents and these agents are likely to lead to violent

behaviour. In addition, victims of violence can use drugs to deal with the

techniquesto deal with violence and abuse. Alcohol is associated with crime and

violence, mental health problems such as alcohol dependence and

psychotherapy.127

The problem of drug abuse among children and adolescents is more than

the general population, because young people do not spend much time using it

and identifying them. Drug addiction among young people in developed

countries is usually associated with young sub-cultures and lifestyle. This

acquires acceptance by sub-sub-divisions of drugs and members of their use.

Drug abuse statistics are difficult to find in Asia, but after alcohol, marijuana,

cannabis and amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are the most commonly used

drugs among children and young people.128

An NGO survey in India has shown that 63.6% of patients coming to the

treatment were introduced to drugs at a young age of less than 15 years.

127
World Health Organization. Women of South-East Asia: a health profile. New Delhi:
WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia; 2000. Regional publication SEARO series no.
34.
128
Alcohol and culture in India, prakash kumar 1961

184
According to another report, 13.1% of people involved in drug and substance

abuse in India are also less than 20 years.129

Heroin, opium, alcohol, cannabis and propoxyphen are the five most

common drugs used by children in India. A survey shows that alcohol, cannabis

and opiate users are 21%, 3% and 0.1% and all are under eighteen years of age.

An emerging trend about juvenile drug abuser is the use of cocktails of drugs

through injection, and often shares the same needle, which increases the risk of

HIV infection. In all the states, there were a total of 0.4% and 4.6% children in

total treatment seekers.130

There is also a problem in our country that there is no sensitization

program about the misuse of drugs for schools or children of school. India does

not have a substance misuse policy. Although there is a provision in this regard

in the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice Act but there is no stability.

There is also a high incidence of charging children under the Narcotic Drugs

and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Children who have used high-

quality drugs sometimes they will use volatile substances easily found such as

cough syrup, pain relief ointment, gum, paints, gasoline and cleaning liquids.

129
Children affected by Substance Abuse in India, CHILD Protection & Child Rights »
Vulnerable Children » Children's Issues » Children affected by Substance Abuse
130
Drug habit in juveniles, by Dinesh kumar sarchariya, p23

185
There are very few to no health centers that deal with child substance abuse

problems, especially in the rural areas.

The use of certain drugs such as whitener, alcohol, tobacco, hard and soft

drugs is especially wide spread among street children, working children and

trafficked children, but presently lack of reliable data on drug abuse among

children.

CHILDLINE India Foundation published a study on substance abuse

amongst children in Manipur. In this study, widespread dissemination and

acceptance of the use of drugs from heroin has been found in the most common

spasm proxywon. The high use of intravenous drugs is accompanied by sharing

of needles and hence a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS 131.

MEDIA PROMOTE THE ALCOHOLISM

131
Children affected by Substance Abuse, www.childlineindia.org.in

186
 Advertising has a strong effect on our lives because they provide

information and create awareness about the market. Whether we buy them or

not, but are completely influenced by the promotional activities of related

companies. Therefore, due to widespread adverse effects alcohol can cause

advertisements of unhealthy products like alcohol, Indian government Have

tried to always prohibits advertisements on the large scale or at least showing

such products with appropriate laws, orders and instructions.132

There are many reasons for the use of drugs by the juveniles, in which

the media plays an important role. Alcohol represents the hazards of the most

important drug in adolescence.133 More than $25 billion per year is spent on

advertising for alcohol, and prescription drugs, and such advertising has been

shown to be effective. Digital media is being used fast to advertise of drugs. 134

The various surrogate advertisements which are used by manufacturers of

whisky and liquor products.

1. Bagpiper: The advertisement of Bagpiper Club Soda are shown in place of

whiskey.

132
Evaluation of surrogate advertising and its legal measures with special reference to india.
ByChandrashekhar Singh
133
Youth Substance abuse and media. www.infogr.am
134
Organizational Principles to Guide and Define - Pediatrics - AAP News.
www.pediatricsaappublication .org

187
2. Royal Stag: Instead of advertising whiskey, Royal Stag shows music CDs and

Mega Cricket in the ad with the theme "Make It Large".

3. McDowell’s No.l Platinum: Indian captain MS Dhoni gave an advertisement

for surrogate soda and described it as "No.1 Spirit of Leadership."135

4. Hayward’s 5000: This brand has been advertised through soda and packaged

drinking water. It is well known that Hayward is 5000 and 10000 whiskey

and beer brands respectively due to the wide availability of the market.

5. Imperial Blue: This whiskey is advertised by showing the music CD in the

advertisement. That is, Imperial Blue Music CD. This advertising stories

claim that“Men will be Men”. It is the symbol of Imperial Blue for

manhood.

6. Royal Challenge: Major cricketers are shown in advertisement, music is

played at the same time, it is also advertised with the brand of mineral

water.136

135
The Study of Surrogate Advertising with An Indian Perspective by Seema A. Suryawanshi
(Assistant Professor, Naran Lala School of Industrial Management & Computer Science,
Navsari Bhagwati Sankul) Volume : 3 | Issue : 10 | Oct 2013 | ISSN - 2249-555X
136
Surrogate Advertising : A Successful Marketing Strategy for Liquor, Whisky products
Author : Dr. S. G. Khawas Patil [ Yeshwant Mahavidyalaya, Nanded ] Laxmikant S.
Hurne [ Yeshwant Mahavidyalaya.

188
The government of India has banned the advertisements of bagpiper, mcdowell

etc But even then they are used openly.

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL USE IN RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL

CEREMONIES

Today, social discourse on cannabis in the Western world is generally

closed in two areas. One is its illegality and potential toxicity, as well as the

popular use of cannabis as a recreational drug. Second is the science-based

capability of Cannabis as the basis of the active ingredients of medicine. But in

traditional, Indian society, the discourse is quite different. Cannabis, and similar

heelukinogenes are seen as important rituals and religious aids. They are also

healing the plants. To a lesser extent, it was widespread in Western society in

the 1960s when some pioneers used cannabis and similar herbal helions in the

form of agents of internal exploration. This perspective was lost after the end of

1960.137

The main preparation used for smoking in India is called ganja. Charas is

a more concentrated preparation, which is mixed with resin collected from the

137
Hallucinogens in India: the Forgotten Spiritual and Religious Dimensions By Dr. Stephen
Fulder. www.tovana.org

189
rubbing or touching flowers, and it is also smoked. Fresh or dried leaves are

often prepared and in the form of drink or dessert, known as cannabis or bhang
138
.

Fresh leaves are used for hemorrhoids treatment. When the leaves are

roasted and raw fruits are usually used for the help in to sleep, the main

traditional medicinal use in India is mild sedative in the form of dishonesty,

hysteria, emotional stress, and painkillers, as is the example of migraine

headache139.

The government of India has made illegal trade and sale of cannabis

illegal, but by no means has prohibited its use for cultural and religious

purposes. Tolerance has returned 100 years back to the Government's Hamp

Cway restricts its use for cultural and religious purposes. The tolerance dates

back to the government’s Hemp Commission, of more than 100 years ago,

which made a thorough study of cannabis use in Indian society and came to the

conclusion that there were no noticeable harmful effects in moderate

consumption. Today plant of Ganja is grown and used openly in temples and

spiritual centers. Hemp is widely used in festivals, even by children. Traditional

Indian families can go under the river, can carry cannabis, and practice rituals
138
ibid
139
Chopra, R.N. Indigenous drugs of India. Dhur, Calcutta (1958)

190
for the festival or can sing sacred saga. Although the most intense use is

saddhus and renunciates. Ganj or charas are smoked here, often in groups,

around the sacred fire. Before the ganja is smoked the Gods, such as Shiva are

invoked. Often with a shout.

Although its religious usage is completely something else, Cannabis is

used not only for entertainment but for conversion. Prepare another order of

preparation, dedication, and intention experience. Here the drug is used as gate,

a window for insights. In this spiritual experiment, hallucinogens are not

actually hallucinogens . They are the opposite, rather than motivating the dream

to avoid reality, they help to wake up with reality, which is a dream itself. If we

can not see anything other than reality with unanimity, then the material world

of things and bounds, we are fascinated by the delusion, delusional attraction.

Cannabis and spiritual practice help us to break the magic. For example, the

sadhu yells Bhola as Shiva's dedication. Heluciognans that extend the

consciousness are importantly dependent on the set, setting and environment in

which they are taken.It may well be that the cannabis induced spiritual journeys

of the saddhus are hardly possible unless you are living a sadhus life.

In vedic mythology, in the ancient sacred text the Rig Veda, Soma is

deified as the plant of the Gods. It is described in over 1000 adoring hymns or

191
poems. The plant itself was worshipped and until today the word implies divine

bliss. The nature of the plant is a mystery. However a strong case has been

made that it is the Amanita muscaria red mushroom a hallucinogenic mushroom

used in religious ceremonies especially in central Asia140. However this has

been disputed by other authors and cannabis proposed as much more likely141.

Other hallucinogens are known and occasionally used in India. The

main ones are opium,(Papaver somniferum), dhatura, (Dhatura stramonium),

and henbane (Hyoscyamus niger). However none of them have significance as a

religious icon. Opium is regarded as too sedative, and the others too toxic and

intoxicating.

Interestingly, the Indian perspective on cannabis is opposite to the

Chinese view. As the earliest legendary pharmacopoeia of Chinese medicine

(Sheng Nung’s Pen-tsao Ching) records, “if taken for a long time, it helps one

communicate with spirits and lighten the body”. The pharmacopoeia notes that

it is used to jump into the future for purposes of divination. Unlike India,

cannabis use in China went into decline and gave way to opium. While

cannabis tends to create active hallucinations, excitation, creativity, opium is

140
Wasson, R.G. Soma: divine mushroom of immortality. Harcourt Brace & World, New
York
141
Swamy, B.G.L. Sources for a history of plant sciences in India. II. The RigVeda Soma
plant. Indian Journal of History of Science 11 11-32 (1976)

192
more of a sedative, creating pleasant and passive hallucinations and feelings of

well-being, which is more compatible with the Chinese ordered sense of culture,

the emphasis on family life, social organisation and restraint. India is a wilder

place142.

DRUGS USE IN SPORTS (DOPING)

UNESCO defines it as, 'Doping' refers to an athlete's use of prohibited drugs or

methods to improve training and sporting results. steroid drugs which often talk

about doping, but in athletes doping prohibited drugs Use (such as stimulants,

hormones, diuretics, narcotics and marijuana), use of forbidden methods(such as

blood transfusions or gene doping), and even so They also try to tamper with

drug testing or doping controls.143

When athletes use illegal drugs to improve their performance, than in the test it

is found that they have used illegal drugs for better performance. Then he is out

from the game.

142
Li, H.-L. The origin and use of cannabis in Eastern Asia: linguistic cultural implications.
Economic Botany 28 293-301
143
Doping in sports, rockbottomgolf.com

193
There are five classes of restricted drugs, the most common of which are

stimulants and hormones. They include health risks in taking them and have

been banned by the government or operating bodies of the Games.

Stimulating and power-building drugs are used in the game up to the date of

ancient Greece, but during the 1920's the restrictions on the use of drugs use in

the sport were first thought necessary. In 1928, the International Association of

Athletics Federation (IAAF) - the world governing body of athletics - became

the first international sports federation to ban doping.144

The most commonly used substances are anabolic steroids such as androgenic

agents. These athletes allow to train hard, recover faster and build more

muscles, but they can lead to kidney damage and increased aggression. Other

side effects include baldness and low sperm count for men, and facial hair

increases and women have a deep voice. Anabolic steroids usually take in tablet

form or are injected into the muscles. Some creams or gels apply to skin.145

144
What is Doping, UNESCO, www.unesco.org
145
Doping in sport: What is it and how is it being tackled? 20 august 2015,www.bbc.com

194
Then the stimulants, who make the athletes more alert and can improve the

effects of fatigue by increasing heart rate and blood flow. But they are addictive

and, in extreme cases, heart failure may occur.146

Diuretics and masking agents are used to remove fluid from the body, which

can hide the use of other drugs or, in sports such as boxing and horse racing,

help competitors "make the weight".

Narcotic analgesics and cannabinoids are also used to cover the pain caused by

injury or fatigue - but they can make injuries worse in practice, they are also

addictive products such as morphine and oxycodone have been banned but the

opiate-derived painkiller codenone is allowed.

Then there are peptide hormones. These are substances such as EPO

(erythropoietin) - Which increases bulk, strength and red blood cell count and

gives athletes more energy - and HGH (human development hormone), which

builds muscles.147

146
Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids: Mechanism Of Action And Effects On Performance,
Thomas D. Fahey Exercise Physiology Laboratory, California State University, Chico,
Chico CA 95929 USA
147
Ibid

195
There is less common blood doping, where blood is extracted from the body and

later injected to boost oxygen levels. such practice is restricted, which can cause

kidney and cardiac failure.

Glucocorticoids mask serious injuries because they are anti-inflammatory and

affect the fats, metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and regulate glycogen and

blood pressure levels.

Meanwhile, beta blockers, which can be prescribed for the prescribed for high

blood pressure and heart attack, are prohibited in sports such as archery and

shooting as they keep heart rate low and reduce trembling in hands.148

WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) monitors doping in all kinds

of competitive sports. Created in 1991, WADA is an independent international

agency funded by sports organisations and associated countries. It monitors

doping in sport based on the World Anti-Doping Code.

148
Doping: Meaning, Various Doping Substances and Detection of Doping,
http://www.gktoday.in/blog/doping-meaning-various doping-substances-and-detection-of-
doping

196
 List of prohibited substances : Wada updates the list of prohibited

substances and methods from time to time. This includes steroids, anabolic

agents, stimulants, and gene doping. Some components like narcotics have been

permanently restricted. Some, such as alcohol, are restricted to competition

only.149

At the national level, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is an

independent body under Central Sports Ministry.

1. In 2000, discus throwover Seema was stripped from his gold in the World
Junior Championships.

2. In 2005, discus throwers Anil and Neelam were given two years' ban for
positive testing.

3. In 2010, shot putter Saurabh got a two-year ban for testing positive for
banned stimulant150.

4. In recent 2016, Narsingh Yadav was handed a four-year ban by the Court
of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on a doping charge. The court’s ruling
overturned the decision by India’s National Anti Doping Agency
(NADA) to exonerate the wrestler due to the possibility of “sabotage” in
his food or drink allegedly being spiked leading to two failed dope tests.

149
The dope on doping in sports, The Hindu. July 27, 2016
150
Doping in Indian sports: A brief history, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, TNN | Jul 25, 2016,
01.40 PM IST

197
In all the above facts, in this chapter, it clearly shows that there is hardly any

part of society that is not affected in this world of drugs. Drugs or alcohol are

used at every institute. It does not matter here that the addict is rich or poor,

educated or uneducated. Now, when the government thinks about how to

eliminate this disease, on one hand, the government thinks about making rules

or rules to eliminate this evil, on the other hand, the rules related to its sale

make it easier for its own benefit. Now the question is, if the sovereign state

does not welfare of its citizens, then who will do it? But it does not understand

that what kind of welfare is it.

198