Youngsters linked to the drug trade are more victims than offenders, Supreme Court judge said last year who also lay bare not just the callousness towards children that is, regrettably a feature of the society, but also an awareness of the deep corruption that undermines the purpose of any institution for the vulnerable.
Anyone under 18 is a child as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act and as expected the participation of minors in heinous crimes is painful. Deprivation and poverty besides other circumstances push children towards crime. The menace of drug addiction continues to be the biggest threat facing future generations. It is an illness with extensive consequences for those who know, work with, and support the drug-addicted individual(s).
As a consequence, the families suffer due to the cultural and social factors of drug behavior.
A drug abuser drains family resources. The danger is associated with shrinking of responsibilities, sickness and dysfunctional relationships, distortion of interpersonal relationships, violence and death of a drug abuser.
While it may be true that the abuse is a global health and social problem with conditions and causes that vary locally, it remains a prominent issue of mortality across the world and consumes lives of millions of people.
The use of psychoactive substances among adolescents and young adults has become a subject of public concern worldwide for varied consequences.
As experts would say, the geographical location helps in the easy availability of drugs in Jammu and Kashmir. The overall crisis naturally play a role but other factors like peer pressure, unemployment, easy availability of the drugs and the fact that no one wants to talk about the issue, remains the area of concern.
The covid-19 crisis could become apposite to those dealing with illicit trade who only want and, are unfortunately getting, more people to become their prey.
The fiscal downturn caused by the pandemic may drive more people to substance abuse or leave them vulnerable to involvement in drug trafficking and related crimes. Now facing more economic and allied crisis in generations, the government cannot afford to ignore the dangers illicit drugs pose to public health and safety. There is a need to treat the children differently while at the same time deal sternly with adult drug peddlers, more so with habitual offenders. Also, there is a need to stop the supply, sale and purchase of drugs and take all measures in this regard.
