The evils of ‘soft’ drugs

A recent report titled ‘Rise in smuggling of tobacco-based intoxicants’ in our sister paper the Daily News caught my eye. The report quoted the Customs Narcotic Control Unit (CNCU) as saying that “there has been an increase in attempts to smuggle tobacco-based intoxicants into the country, in recent times, while there has been a sharp drop in efforts to bring in hard drugs, such as heroin and cocaine.”

The good news here is that lesser quantities of ‘hard’ drugs are coming into the country thanks to the various interception methods now being used.

International anti-drug smuggling efforts too are proving to be effective. But the bad news is that during the first half of this year, CNCU sleuths seized over 70 Kg of snuff, 14 Kg of Babul Hans, more than 60 Kg of chewing tobacco and 84 Kg of Pang Parah, with a street value of millions of rupees.

These tobacco-based intoxicants are mainly smuggled from other South Asian countries and sold at kiosks in many locations, even near schools. There are incidentally, many loopholes in local laws that are exploited by smugglers.

The foremost among them is that Babul, Hans and snuff and chewing tobacco come under the Food Act and not the Narcotics Control Act. Thus action cannot be taken under the Narcotics Act against the smugglers. The only avenue available to law enforcement officers is to take them into custody on the basis that that the consignments are not labelled as food. Ultimately, the smugglers escape with just a fine.

These drugs are popular mainly among low income earners and young boys. It is known that vendors lure schoolchildren to become potential addicts of these ‘soft’ drugs or substances.

They consume these substances for several weeks and then seek to experiment with the ‘bigger’ illegal drugs, in addition to (legal) tobacco itself, which in theory cannot be sold to anyone under 21. This is the story behind many young hard drug addicts.

Threat

Thus, it is clear that the laws should be amended to reflect the growing threat posed to the younger generation by these seemingly innocuous, yet harmful substances. All existing loopholes should be closed without delay.

Any intoxicating substance can be labelled as a drug or narcotic. We can take a cue from the US in this regard, where the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can test everything from food to drugs for approval.

Perhaps there could be a unified set of laws that handle the import of food and pharmaceuticals.

The Government had to ban the over the counter sale of many cough syrups and other types of medicine because many schoolchildren were using a cocktail of easily available beverages, syrups and drugs to get ‘high’.

Even hair gel has been used as one of the components in this heady mixture. This ban was a step in the right direction and as far as we know, as been effective in veering them away from such concoctions.

The authorities must conduct a survey on the accessibility to these harmful substances. The stalls selling these soft drugs usually have a perfectly legal ‘front’ or cover, such as newspapers, betel, sweets or king coconut.

The other substances are usually provided ‘on demand’. Moreover, they also usually deal in porn, again under the table. Once the new laws are passed, tough action can be taken against the smugglers and sellers of harmful soft drugs.

The school authorities too should be involved in driving students away from both soft and hard drugs as well as tobacco and alcohol. There should be formal and informal lessons on the evils of consuming these substances, with graphic evidence where possible. I saw such material at a recent exhibition and anyone who sees them will not be tempted to try any kind of illegal drug.

The village temple used to be a place of refuge and counsel, but due to the pressures of a modern world (and in the case of students, the incessant exam rat race), many have distanced themselves from it. The temple, church, mosque and kovil in the village should again be the focal points for guiding their followers, especially children, on the correct path. A good moral upbringing is essential to mould a righteous society.

Parents

One cannot forget the role that should be played by the two teachers at home - the parents. They should keep a tab on any behavioural changes in their children without necessarily being intrusive or overtly restrictive.

They should exhort children to keep away from any harmful substances and avoid experimenting with such substances.

Another area where laws should be tightened is the import of various cosmetics and food supplements which blur the ‘border’ between pharmaceuticals and food/cosmetics. These goods are freely advertised on TV and anyone of any age group can easily buy them from supermarkets and big grocery stores islandwide.

There are no clear guidelines on how effective these remedies are, for everything from hair loss to weight gain. Many people buy these products without having any guarantee about their effectiveness and indeed, health and safety aspects. We are told that the authorities are working to do their best by the consumers in this regard and they should consider drafting new laws should the need arise.

In the meantime, the authorities must also step up efforts to prevent the import of cigarettes illegally. While the State derives revenue from the sale of legal tobacco, these smugglers do not contribute a red cent to the Government coffers.

They usually smuggle unheard of brands that may be even more detrimental to smokers than the known brands.

It is equally important to carry out frequent raids on illicit liquor breweries, which cause immense harm to the society. Again, these shady operators do not contribute in any way to the exchequer.

On the other hand, it costs millions of rupees for the State health system to treat people addicted to both legal and illicit liquor. The ‘health cost’ of narcotics, tobacco and alcohol gets short shrift in the media and in the society, which should not be the case.

There was a proposal to charge such patients even at Government hospitals and many right thinking people lauded the move. It is no doubt controversial, but the moot point is whether the State should bear treatment costs for people who clearly know what they are doing - for example, an alcohol addict knows the dangers of alcoholism.

However, this idea needs a wider debate in the media and in civil society. After all, it is the society that should take the lead in eradicating various vices.