Drug abuse on the rise still
26 December 2008
The narcotic control agency this year seized 13,526.5 items of pharmaceutical drugs illicitly trafficked from across the border along with 6,845 grams of marijuana. Kinley Dorji, the Executive Director said that most of the trafficking was carried out on the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway.
The Bhutan Narcotic Control Agency (BNCA) seized 244 bottles of Corex (cough syrup), 4,745 Relipen tablets, 2,592.5 Nitrosun tablets, 16 bottles of Recodex, 5,879 Spasmo proxyvon capsules, 46 Diazepam tablets and 4 bottles of Glycodine.
Kinley Dorji said that in 2007, there was one drug overdose death every month. “Some addicts mix pharmaceutical drugs with alcohol, causing a reaction that results in overdose deaths,” he said.
Although the agency does not maintain records of drug overdose deaths, Kinley said that there could be more than one death in a month because of the use of drugs with alcohol.
According to records of the agency, there were 51 drug traffickers in 2008. There were 49 male traffickers aged between 17 to 31 of whom three were non-Bhutanese and two were Bhutanese females aged 23 and 24.
Kinley Dorji said that drug dealers designed various ways to pass undetected through police check points on the highway. Once, there was information that a woman was transporting marijuana from Phuentsholing but, she had hidden it under a bag of rice and the police had to pour out the entire bag of rice to uncover it. He added that marijuana was the most commonly abused drug in the country.
“We have visited schools to create awareness and solve this problem”, said Kinley. This year, the narcotic control agency visited schools in Pemagatshel, Trashigang and Bumthang on awareness programmes.
But, Kinley said, financial constraints have meant that the agency has been able to conduct only few such programmes . This year, the agency received only Nu 100,600 for the programme.
At present, there are two Drop-in Centres (DIC), one in in Thimphu and the other in Phuentsholing, to help addicts recover.
“We are planning to start a new DIC in Gelephu,” said Kinley.
According to official records, since 2006, there have been 821 reported cases of rise in drug abuse. Official records show that there were 524 such cases between 1989 and 2005.
According to the police drug law enforcement unit, in the last two years, there have been 14 reported cases of drug overdose deaths.
“There may be more such cases that haven’t been reported,” said an official at the unit. This year, three drug abusers died in Phuentsholing and one died in Samdrup Jongkhar. Drug abuse, the official said, was predominant in border regions.
This year, till date, the police have caught 404 people in connection with drug abuse, which is a considerable increase from 286 last year.
“We have started using testing equipment which has helped us tackle the problem,” the official said.
The police have also started working with youth volunteers. “We want people to come forward and join hands to save the youth,” said the Chief of Police, Col. Kipchu Namgyel.
By Pushkar Chhetri
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A fighting we will die !!
Bhutan has just celebrated its hundredth year of peace and prosperity under our able Kings. When we ponder on how we got here, its thanks to the simplicity of our forefathers and parents, whose innocence and fear of god guided Bhutan to what it is today. They have handed down to us a Bhutan that is peaceful and on the road to modernization. The journey of Bhutan through the next hundred years will be a challenge to our young leaders and the youth Bhutan, who must rededicate oneself to the Nation building.
In the present times we are faced with a greater responsibility for our younger generation, to imbibe a sense of strong positive character in order for them to withstand the temptations of this material world.
A grave danger posed by youth drug abuse and alcoholism needs to be given the highest priority to tackle the problem. This sure needs undoubted contributions from parents, Teachers and government authorities.
Here are some thoughts on why ..
1. Relaxed capital punishment and lack of student counseling in schools.
2. Inadequate parental guidance and bond with their children.
3. lenient legal system against crimes committed by youth.
4. Easy access to alcohol and substance of abuse.
5. lack of government programs and initiatives for youth welfare.
6. Rural to Urban drift and unemployment woes.
7. Influence of western lifestyles and fashion.
On how……..
1. Revert back to spare the rod discipline in schools.
2. Create a dynamic competitive sports facilities to involve more youth.
3. Ban all alcohol and Tobacco products, tougher sentences for traffickers.
4. Emphasis on role of greater parent /child participation in Educational activities.
5. A strong legal policy that will deter youth from such crime and substance abuse.
6. Establish Centers of mandatory classes on Buddhist values for students during vacation.
7. Do away with NOC issues, Children hold parents ransom to emotional blackmail.
If Bhutan is to survive the next hundred years, our leaders must address the issue of youth very seriously, devise an efficient program that will withstand time and age. We may never last that long, but our dreams will.