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| Sunday, 30 June 2002 |
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Dramatic increase of drug addicts in the country by Don Asoka Wijewardena Approximately 100,000 drug addicts continue to use narcotics such as heroin, cannabis and resin-hashish. The figure comprises about 10,000 students (75 per cent of male students from schools in Colombo, Kandy, Galle and Kurunegala areas and certain international schools. This was revealed by the Assistant Superintendent of Police, (Police Narcotics Bureau), K. Sunil P. Maligaspe, to the "Sunday Observer". ASP Maligaspe said that since 1995 there had been a dramatic increase of drug users among the age categories of 15-19, 20-24, 25-29 and 30 and upwards. He said that the most dangerous drug in Sri Lanka, "Cannabis Sativa "L", was mostly grown in the jungles of the Eastern province, in the Uva and in the South. "Habitual users of this drug become addicts after sometime but its impact on one's health is not so dangerous as other hard drugs," explained Maligaspe. According to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), 5,195 suspects were arrested in 5,177 cases for possession of cannabis in the past few years and a total of 77,027 kg had been seized during such raids. When asked what was the most popular kind of hard drug in the country, the ASP cited heroin as the most widely used variety by the youth in Sri Lanka. The PNB had conducted 10,117 raids and arrested about 10,278 persons, with the assistance of police, the customs, the excise department and the terrorist investigation division. Maligaspe said that heroin was mainly smuggled into Sri Lanka from India and Pakistan through couriers and foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka on the pretext of doing business. "We can take into custody anyone in possession of hard drugs but there is no law to arrest those under the influence of drugs. Most parents of heroin addicts were undergoing severe mental trauma and financial constraints over their children being isolated from the society and, some of those rehabilitated are weaned away from the society as they are not welcome. This may lead them to resort to their old habits once again," said ASP Maligaspe. It is common knowledge that drug addicts tend to become violent and engage in various criminal activities when they have no money to buy hard drugs. There had been instances where rivalry among big time dealers had resulted in factional clashes. The PNB has commenced a scheme to educate the youth and schoolchildren on the dangers of drugs with a view to eradicating the menace and it has urged both the public and the private sector organisations to assist in its endeavour. |
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