POLICY BRIEF 01: DRUGS- THE INSIDIOUS ENEMY BY K C VERMA

Drug trafficking and addiction cause untold human suffering throughout the world. They also spawn evils like corruption, terrorism, human trafficking and prostitution. Yet the danger from drugs is seldom recognized because of its insidious nature. In India, there is insufficient awareness of critical issues and even the extent of drug abuse is unclear. Policy responses have been inadequate, mainly due to absence of structures to deal with the multidimensional threat. The first and only nation-wide survey of drug addiction patterns in India was done in 2001. In the subsequent years, there have been many anecdotal reports of alarming levels of drug addiction, particularly in Punjab, but no extensive survey has been undertaken and drug-related information remains deficient. A recent survey seems to confirm that the level and pattern of drug abuse in Punjab should indeed be a matter of grave concern.