Abusive narcotics have a wide-ranging and diverse negative influence on individuals and societies. All kinds of psychoactivesubstances, including widely known heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine (ICE), have a substantial and weighty impact on physical health, mental well-being, social structures, and economies. In Sri Lanka, the consequences of drug misuse reverberate throughout numerous domains, demanding thorough preventive actions to reduce their negative impacts.
There is more than adequate evidence to highlight the drug abuse destruction on public health and safety year after year that threatens the peaceful existence of the citizenry and smooth functioning of the administrative system. It is no secret that the current intolerable country-wide crime wave is mostly aggravated by drug abuse. A vast majority of crimes throughout the country, including homicide, burglary, theft, fraud, robbery, embezzlement, and sexual assault, occur due to drug abuse. The common perspective in the country is that whenever a crime takes place, most often, the core pretense is drug-related.
The pressing issue of youth drug abuse has assumed alarming dimensions in Sri Lanka. According to subject experts, deteriorating cultural and social values, economic stress, and decreasing family bonds mostly lead to initiation into narcotics and later develop into criminal behaviour.
Particularly, the violently rising proportion of drug abuse among schoolchildren and adolescents has become the hottest topic in the country during the past few years. It is perhaps not only one of the most alarming issues but also a grave concern for society’s entire future.
While cracking down on retail drug dealers who target schoolchildren, improving legal literacy among the young population, particularly schoolchildren, can have an enormous effect on controlling this intolerable social menace. A proper legal education inside the classroom can describe how the country’s laws work against drug-related crimes and the repercussions if one disobeys or breaks them, knowingly or unknowingly.
Regrettably, a vast majority of youth in the country are unaware of how severe the punishment for drug-related crimes is. Experts opine that the best way to prevent children from using illicit substances is to educate them, from an early age, about crimes, laws against crimes, and, more emphatically, the related severe punishments when convicted.
Sri Lanka Police, amidst praise and criticism, with the complete auspices of the government, has recently initiated a special operation to fight narcotics and organised crime. According to police sources, the aim is to implement a complete change in activities related to drugs and crime prevention. The focus of the operation is to concentrate on those engaged in trafficking rings. Accordingly, the Police Department, with the assistance of the Special Task Force, and the Army have commenced island-wide raids.
A priority
The move, no doubt, is one of the highest priorities for the entire citizenry. The public opinion is that regardless of who initiated it, the anti-drug operation is a dire necessity for the entire country today. The media reports confirm that by the end of December, after two weeks, the law enforcement officers had arrested more than 20,000 suspects and seized nearly a billion rupees worth of drugs and wealth (both property and vehicles) accumulated by illicit means worth over another half a billion rupees.
These figures mark an impressive overall success. Unlike previous occasions, the public support seems to be high, as the sources declare that the police have received nearly 11,000 telephone calls on illegal drug trafficking, amply exposing public interest in the subject.
Nevertheless, irrespective of the overall benefit or welfare of the general public, a small faction of social media, a few You Tubers, dubious politicians, and a few from even the legal fraternity are making a big uproar against the ongoing anti-drug effort. However, fortunately, the Ministry of Defence and the police top brass seem to have ignored such criticisms and are determined to continue.
The common public opinion is that drug addiction is a menace that must be annihilated at the first available opportunity. It not only disrupts social harmony but also places a significant economic strain on society. The economic cost of drug misuse is incalculable. The use, manufacture, and marketing of abusive drugs, as well as the visible rise of drug consumers, pose enormous challenges to humanity. It eventually leads to unemployment, a decrease in human resources, a drop in intellectual power, an unhealthy society, and increased criminality in general.
The primary repercussions of the dependence on drugs are the enormous cost for society in terms of direct and indirect health-related problems that lead to social consequences; loss of human and financial resources at workplaces; road accidents caused by excessive use; domestic violence; and costs related to chronic diseases such as cancer, heart diseases, etc. However, the most concerning drug-related health issues at present are psychological disorders.
According to experts, the common and serious mental disorders associated with chronic narcotic abuse in Sri Lanka include depression, anxiety, antisocial personality disorder, panic disorder, and many other long- and short-term mental diseases. A rising number of individuals with these mental disorders can be seen in society today, and clearly, the preventive methods in existence as countermeasures are not adequate.
The escalating crime wave, including conflicts due to drug ring rivalry, is a serious concern. It is evident that most crimes, both petty and severe, are a result of drug trading clashes. A wave of crimes, including shootings, murders, theft, and robbery, were witnessed recently, raising serious concerns among the citizenry and the authorities. However, in a recent media briefing, the Acting Inspector General of Police declared that the island-wide crime rate has dropped significantly since the beginning of the ongoing anti-drug operation.
According to reports, Sri Lanka is a transit country for heroin originated from a few Asian countries due to its penetrable borders. However, it is no secret that a portion of the internationally trafficked drugs through Sri Lanka enters the local market as well, influencing the ongoing criminal activities throughout the country.
The domestic legislation has strongly criminalised an extensive variety of narcotics in the country, of which some, such as heroin and cocaine, are severely punishable with life imprisonment to death and long-term incarceration. Most high-value drug-related offences are non-bailable and require long-term pre-trial detention, where bail mandatorily must be obtained from the High Courts, citing special circumstances.
The downsides are the administrative delays due to obsolete regulations that come into effect when the judicial process begins. One of the most discussed topics was the delays occurring at the Government Analyst’s Department, which is inundated with drug samples sent in constantly for testing. Apart from the costs incurred (Rs. 20,000 per sample), the exorbitant expenditure spent on inmates during long pre-trial periods due to test report delays is a pressing issue for the government’s coffers.
Prevention vital
Prevention of narcotics use is becoming more important than many other issues in the country, as drug abuse causes enormous socio-economic issues. Understanding the impact of narcotics is undoubtedly an invaluable strength. Knowing how drugs impact the body, the long- and short-term effects of substance abuse, and the risk factors involved are the key areas of the prevention strategy.
The preventive education and training unit of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board can play a pivotal role in drug prevention. Although the website of the institution outlines their prevention programs such as school-based prevention, youth-based prevention, family-based prevention, and so forth, in reality, the outcomes of such presentations are inconspicuous.
Narcotics wield a profound and far-reaching impact on Sri Lankan society at large. Combatting this complex issue demands a multifaceted approach that involves education, healthcare, law enforcement, community engagement, and even international cooperation. Preventive measures aimed at reducing demand and availability and averting attraction to narcotics are vital in mitigating their devastating consequences and safeguarding the well-being of present and future generations.
