Drug Abuse: A Social Evil | UPSC Mains Essay Preparation PDF Download

Structure

(1) Opening    

• Social Awareness.
• Enslavement to drugs and compulsion to obtain and consume it by any means.

(2) Body   

• Different types of drugs.
• Explanation by psycholo-gists and sociologists.
• New dimension in drug abuge.
• Search for the causes of drug abuse.
• Drugs among children.
• Effects of drug.
• Laws are not so strict.
• Drugs as a source of revenue.

(3) Closing: Drug abuse is a social problem and has legal ramifications. The war on drugs is on.

Sample Essay

"Drug is Death: Say no to Drugs " and other such slogans visible on billboards and newspapers are proof of the social awareness drug abuse has attracted. Drug-related crimes are equally conscience-stirring and have made people much over it.

We all have relied on the drugs. Our doctors have prescribed for various diseases, so, how can its use be an abuse? The use of psychoactive substances for obtaining relief from mental tension or physical discomfort i.e. for therapeutic uses is legitimate use of drugs. Contrary to this, when used for attaining pleasure or new experiences and consequent physical or psychological harm is termed as drug abuse. Such drug abuse induces drug dependence and ultimately addiction and habituation. In drug addicts there is an enslavement to drugs and compulsion to obtain and consume it by any means. They develop a psychological and physical dependence on the effects of the drugs and an effect detrimental to the individual and society.

The abusable drugs are of various types; sedatives or depressants that relax the central nervous systems, induce sleep and provide a soothing effect. Stimulants activate the central nervous systems and relieve tensions, make them aggressive and counteract fatigue. Narcotics, like depressants, affect — the central nervous system to produce feelings of pleasure and strength and lessen inhibitions. Hallucinogens produce distortion of perceptions and dream images.

Drug abuse has been explained by psychologists and sociologists. It is generally regarded that pleasurable sensations produced by drugs reinforce their use to satisfy certain psychological needs, or are a response to fear and insecurity in the conditions of modern life, often association with users is also regarded as a reason for accepting drugs. Drug abuse can also be explained in terms of the weakening of social bonds between individuals and society due to maladjustment alienation and non-commitments.

A new dimension in drug abuse has been its use by sports persons to enhance their potential beyond humanly endurable limits. The incident of Ben Johnson was a jolt to sports lovers all over the world and has caused much thinking on efforts to curb the recurrence of such incidents. However, with unfailing regularity such controversies erupt, for example, Katrin Krabe.

It would be appropriate here to search for the causes of drug abuse. Among sportspersons, it can be safely attributed to the search and urge for glory. It can be an attempt to gain an unfair advantage over others in the achievement orientation of modern society. The ends have become all-powerful and means have been relegated as secondary.

The use of drugs among children which is most shocking and astounding can be variously explained. Juvenile delinquents take to it in defiance and deviance from social values. Some children accept it under peer group pressure and as an act of proving their 'masculinity.' Others take to this due to the weakening of emotional bonds between parents and siblings. Children who are at an impressionable age require much effectual and emotional bond to wean them away from such anti-social activities.

In rural areas, the use of psychoactive substances is for religious purposes e.g. Holi, Shivratri and on ritual occasions. However, it is also used to relieve fatigue and also a source of entertainment.

In industrial urban settings, the use is for more or less the same reasons.

Apart from the health and physical disadvantages drug abuse causes, it has also led to an acceleration in crime. An addict would stop at nothing to get his dose of the drug. There has been a spurt in thefts and murders by these addicts whose dependence physical and psychological upon the drugs is so great that the accepted values and norms of society are shelved and their prime concern becomes acquiring their dosage.

There has been an increase in smuggling and peddling of those drugs as the economic advantages are numerous. It has also made the gangs engaged in such activities more vicious and violent as the economic stakes are very high.

This delineation of drug abuse brings us to the point where reference must be made to efforts to curb their evil. Given that the use of drugs has historical and cultural context prevention is more complicated. Efforts have been made to combat drug trafficking, treat addicts and prevent drug abuse.

India being on the transit route faces a challenging and unenviable task. However, our Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act has not been very effective, Seizures have increased and so have indictments for offences but that is reflective only of the increase in those activities and not any positive development of control of drug abuse. Other legal sanctions are merely suggestions of intention and not actions.

The government regards drugs as a source of revenue and therefore its cultivation cannot be stopped. The inefficiency of administrative machinery in policing and preventing abuse needs no highlighting.

The only positive development is the establishment of de-addiction and detoxification centers which have enabled us to salvage some people from destruction. However, these centres are expensive and the addicts tend to relapse unless they have a strong willpower and a desire to abdicate the malaise. Voluntary associations have also been doing a commendable task.

In conclusion, we can say that drug abuse has been realised as a major evil. It is a social problem and has legal ramifications. It has been given a high profile now and mass media has been disseminating information to educate people to prevent drug abuse. The battle continues and the war on drugs is on.