Bangladesh has achieved remarkable success in reigning in drug abuse through various raids and investigations by the police. However, the vast drug network that recently came to light indicates we still have a long way to go in the war against drugs.
In recent times, foreign nationals have also come into play. They are responsible for smuggling in drugs through new routes. According to several research statistics, 7.5 million people are addicted to drugs in Bangladesh. The youth makes up about 80% of those people.
Needless to say, drug abuse is costing the country dearly, both financially and socially. A huge proportion of drug users often end up getting involved in various criminal activities. Many more are dying each day of drug overdoses.
Drug abuse is costing the country dearly,
both financially and socially
Instead of becoming productive members of society, these youths are engaging in destructive activities, bringing harm to themselves, as well as society. If the rates of drug abuse and addiction can be brought down, there will also be a huge decrease in crime rates in the country.
Simply apprehending the drug peddlers and smugglers will not be enough to deal with this problem. Change must come from the grassroots level. Young children must be made aware of the risks of drug abuse. Schools, universities and parents must engage in open discussion with teens and young adults about the issue of drug addiction.
The government has also stepped up and strengthened the drug laws. The screening process at our airport must be further improved to deter drug smugglers from entering the country. Foreign nationals caught smuggling drugs into or out of the country should also be heavily punished in order to set a precedent. Ordinary citizens must be vigilant when it comes to reporting any kind of suspicious activities or individuals in their surroundings.
Instead of demonizing addiction, we must help rehabilitate drug abusers and help them reintegrate themselves into society. Without strong social support, the addicts are likely to fall back into the same destructive patterns. Many developed countries are now starting to think of drug abuse as a public health problem. By treating addiction like a disease, we can bring out more and more people from this vicious cycle.
