The state of Punjab which has given to this nation numerous
young freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh
and Rajguru, the sacred land of gurus and saints where great artists like K.L Sehgal
and Muhammad Rafi took their first breaths is now under the influence of a much
popular and disturbing evil-Drug Addiction. The youth of this state who were
once known for their bravery and liveliness are now plunged in a seemingly
unending cycle of abuse and misery.
We often wonder
how the condition of Punjab has become so miserable. Several suspicious minds
believe that the supply of drugs in the state comes from across the border as
an informal attempt of the neighbouring countries to weaken India’s strength by
attacking her young generation though there is no denying of the fact that the
local states are also equally responsible. There are others who blame the
popularity of liquor and drug intake on the western pop culture which seems to
have taken over our Punjabi music industry almost completely. Nearly every
Punjabi song these days is incomplete without the mention of narcotics or a
bottle of alcohol. But whoever we blame, one thing is unquestionable and that
is the role of the government and the police force because whatever be the
source, it is absolutely impossible for any power both internal and external to
circulate something so harmful at such a large scale without the proper support
of the authorities.
As per certain
statistics, no less than 50% of the state’s youth is indulged in one form of
drug abuse or another. Whether it is natural drugs like Opium and Cocaine or
artificial drugs like Ecstasy and LSD, everything is available. All you need is
money. Many people argue that these stats are nothing but false accusations to
defame the state and the ruling party but I beg to differ. The large drug
consuming population lives not in the cities and the rich societies but in the
rural areas with very bleak sources of income. It is in the villages that these
substances are readily available at pharmacy shops under fake medicine names.
Whole families have been ruined due to this reason as addicts go as far as robbing
or even killing their own kin to obtain money for their next fix. And yet the
powers that be have somehow turned a blind eye to this devastating situation in
order to fill their own pockets.
As they say,
the damage has been done. Now what we can do best is to find out ways with
which to rehabilitate the misled and adopt appropriate measures so as to curb
the problem to avoid further destruction. Change always begins at home. First
of all, we as individuals have to realize the threat these drugs pose to our
lives and refrain from getting involved with such activities. Secondly, parents
and teachers should explain the ill-effects of drugs to children from a young
age. Those who have already lost their way should not be treated as outcastes
but as men and women who are sick and need proper care and treatment. Last but
most importantly, the authorities have to take firm and honest measures to
ensure the establishment and maintenance of rehabilitation centres in all parts
of the province with regular inspections to ensure apt administration. Special
task forces should be setup to locate and block the sources of all sorts of
harmful drugs both within and outside the state. Together we can and together
we will eradicate this issue of drug addiction from Punjab
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