The magnitude of the task at hand would also become apparent. While reducing the frequency of drug usage is a substantial problem, a bigger one is the sharp increase in synthetic drug manufacture and cross-border smuggling.
Source: Tribune India
New preparations to eliminate the threat are in the works despite reports of all-out operations against street vendors and suppliers. Decriminalizing addiction is a worthwhile experiment. A critique of the proposal would also be appropriate.
In accordance with Section 64(A) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, drug users who voluntarily seek treatment at a facility run or authorized by the government are immune from prosecution. A change in Punjab’s tactics may be seen in the decision to send persons found in possession of tiny amounts of drugs to de-addiction facilities rather than punishing them.
Source: The Tribune
Every drug overdose fatality will now be investigated after a recent wave of such deaths. If an addict overdoses and dies, the drug provider will be held accountable for the crime of culpable murder. If large-scale drug traffickers are successful in obtaining bail as a result of their inability to submit a chargesheet by the deadline, the promised action against police personnel will be closely observed.
In order to educate the public about the negative effects of drugs, police teams have been instructed to hold talks in specific rural and urban regions. Involvement of NGOs and students in high school and college is being pursued. Community involvement will be encouraged to identify users so that they can be rehabilitated via microloans and skill-based activities rather than being named and shamed.
What do you think about this? Comment below.