Drugs Problem In Nepal

Drug problem is a serious concern of different parts of the countries which hampers the living standard of the people. Today, many people in different parts of the world are indulged in it and due to which they are suffering from harmful diseases. According to World Drug Report, 2017, 29.5 million people worldwide are suffering from drug use disorder. It is one of the most illegitimate substances that some people smoke and inject which may affect their physical and mental health. Apparently, drug problem is raising concern among youth as they end up indulging on this problem during the adolescent period only and the main reason for youth taking such kind of harmful substances are peer pressure, curiosity, family problem, lack of awareness and pleasure.

Nepal is one of the countries where there is more number of drugs problem and many people are facing this problem since 1970. Different kinds of drugs are found in Nepal and they are Cannabis or Marijuana, alcohol, bhang and so on. In Nepal, a drug like cannabis is popular in some festivals like Shivaratri and Holi where different holy person and aged person consumed these substances. According to existing data, 91,534 drug users in Nepal and the number is increasing abruptly. Among the drug users in Nepal, more number of youths is engaged in it. As per recent data, 70,390 drug users are below age of 30. Drug problem among youth is also raising concern in Nepal as well. According to statistical data, many youth belong to age group 18 to 25 years end up taking this illicit substance due to above mentioned reasons. They are unaware about the consequences of taking illegal substances due to which their life becomes miserable and woeful. At first, they take drug just for having fun only and slowly and slowly they became addicted by these substances and they will not only ruining their life but their family life as well. Due to drug problems, dropping rate are also high as more number of youth are busy taking these illegal substances due to which they do not have any times to attend the schools or colleges so they are hampering their education also. The hard drug user has also changed from smoking or ingesting to injecting so that they are suffering from dreadful diseases like HIV/AIDS.

Drug is vulnerable but many people takes drugs due to bad company, impact of catchy advertisements, due to frustration, conflict in family and due to discrimination and feeling of isolation. After taking such kind of illegal substances, there will be a major impact in all over the bodies and they are dysfunction of organ, high blood pressure, chest pain, heart attack, grinding of teeth, bronchitis, Hepatitis B and C, cancer, liver cirrhosis, kidney damage and so on. There will be high risk of suffering of HIV/AIDS, if they used any means like syringes or any other injecting substances.

Many drug users may suffer from different hazardous diseases after taking these substances and apparently, the number of death ratio also increasing rapidly due to using harmful substances and among different drug user, some of them want to abandon these substances because after taking drugs they do not have any control of their body and also they do not feel secure so they want to quit it. Quitting is not an easy task for them so there are many ways and different rehabilitation center which help them to renounce it. Treatment and Rehabilitation can be regarded as an important aspect for taking the drug user out of this problem. In order to involve the users in such program family support is essential for them. Rehabilitation and social reintegration in the field of drug use is one of the most daunting task faced by those who are working in this field so in order to run this type of program first they should get clear information about the user’s personality, family background, environment of working and user’s values, attitude, goals, toward lifelong with many similar things. It is well known that addiction is affliction and can be cured if it is treated properly. The main objectives of rehabilitation and treatment program is to aware the drug user and give them new life so that they live happy and prosperous life.

Rehabilitation program is universally accepted, scientific treatment for drug users and due to which they have change their behaviour and develop the positive attitude and established themselves as successful person. Medical detoxification is the first stage of addiction treatment where it helps to clean the entire addict’s body from the chemicals and toxins that attached themselves to the brain and internal organs and systems due to substance abuse. Treatment is normally carried out by certified drug abuse counselors, physicians, psychologists, nurses and social worker. There are different approaches and treatment models and they are Therapeutic Community, Medical Model, Minnesota Model, Multi-Disciplinary Model, Traditional Model and Faith-Based Model. The main aim for different rehabilitation program is to strengthen the national framework strategy for drug abuse, control, risk reduction, rehabilitation and counseling services for people using drug and those who are transmitted from harmful diseases like HIV/AIDS due to injecting the substances and also coordinated national system of drug demand reduction.

In Nepal, many NGOs and different other organizations are also helping those people who are addicted of these substances. Different programs are carried out in order to create awareness among people in order to restore and reintegrate the community and entire nation. Despite of having different organizations, drug problem in Nepal is still increasing rapidly. In order to eradicate such problem the Government of Nepal must play important role and establish stringent measure to control it. Drugs are illegal and illegitimate to use but also different kinds of harmful substances are carried out by the traffickers in order to earn hard cash money. According to statistical data, a total of 16,717 drugs traffickers were arrested during past six years (2011-2016) in Nepal. Apparently, Nepal is emerging as a major hub for drug trafficking due to which many people are involved in it. It is evident that Nepal has also become a transit for international drug trade as different drug peddler exported drugs to other countries via Nepal. Due to open boarder with India, drug problem rates also increasing expeditiously. Evidently, a total of 763 Indian nationals have been arrested in drug smugglers and out of total number 729 are men and 36 are women. In order to eradicates, such problem both government maintain stringent measure in boarder areas.

Drug problems are raising concern in Nepal so Government must take action and maintain strong policies to control it. In order to control and eradicate such problem Government has established an act called Narcotic Drugs (Control) act, 2033 (1976). This act is established in 22^nd September 1976 and it is applicable to every Nepalese citizens or foreigner who is residing in foreign countries and conducts transactions of export or import of narcotic drugs from or into Nepal. According to this act, Narcotic Drugs means Cannabis or marijuana, Opium and so on and no person shall cultivate, produce, purchase, sell and distribute these kinds of drug. According to this act, any who consumes, cultivate, purchases and sell unknowingly shall be punished with an imprisonment for some years.

So, drugs are vulnerable threat not only those who are involved in it but it is threat to their family, society and entire nation. Everyone must abandon it and government must maintain severe laws and regulation for traffickers and make our country a drug free nation.