Drug abuse is corroding the foundations of society and leading to child abuse as well as sexual and domestic violence, said Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Thursday.
Singh made the observation in his inaugural address at a three-day judicial conference on drug menace organised by the State legal Services Authority here.
The Chief Minister said that the challenges posed by illicit drug trafficking and abuse of drugs were universal and India was no exception to this twin problem.
“Illicit drug business attracts criminal organisations because of the huge potential profits” said he, adding that online pharmacies indulging in illicit sale of pharmaceutical drugs through internet is major emerging problem nowadays which has to be countered effectively.
“Elimination of a specific drug does not imply the complete elimination of the associated drug problem”, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the drug control strategies were generally aimed at achieving a balance between supply reduction and demand reduction of drugs. Without demand reduction there will only be a shift towards other drugs or substances of abuse.
Therefore, neither demand reduction nor supply reduction programmes alone can fully address the problem of drug abuse. For this reason, it was mandatory that
supply and demand reduction policies are applied concurrently, he asserted.
As far as Malana, which has become infamous for producing Cannabis in Kullu district, the government is committed to make it drug-free, said the Chief Minister adding that Malana though was a small speck in the world largest drug business.
Cannabis derivatives are the most easily and readily available illegal drugs in India, he said, adding that this crop was widely cultivated in many states, including Himachal Pradesh which needs to be curbed by enforcing strict laws.
He also urged the judiciary to decide the cases of master minds of drug business expeditiously and on priority basis so that it could be a lesson for others involved in drug business.
The enactment of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to deal with problems of trafficking and abuse of drugs lays down stringent provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to various narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It also provides for
deterrent punishments, including the death penalty and forfeiture of property of the criminals involved in illicit drug trade, yet even after 30 years of enactment of the Act, the problem continues to loom large.
Virbhadra Singh also stressed upon inter-agency coordination which he termed as the most essential prerequisite for reduction in the supply of drugs.
Addressing the gathering, Justice TS Thakur of the Supreme Court said 4,366 cases were registered in the state under the NDPS Act till May 31, 871 cases alone in Kullu district.
"Drug problem is a serious issue. Sixty-seven percent of population in Punjab is addicted to drug abuse, which is not good for a state which is known for its valour," he said.
Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir raised concerns over the increasing rate of druggists in the country, said to be around five million.
He said the drug business had a turnover of around $500 billion and was the third largest business next to petroleum and arms trade.