Time to develop our lives

By Ranjan K Baruah

Whether we agree or not but the fact remains that drugs have been affecting our society since ages! More or less everyone hears about it and its effects. Drugs are chemical substances that affect the normal functioning of the body and/or brain.  Drugs under intertiol control include amphetamine-type stimulants, coca/cocaine, canbis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics. Countries have decided to control these drugs because they pose a threat to health.

Some types of drugs are as follows:

 Canbis: It is a tobacco-like greenish or brownish material made up of the dried flowering tops and leaves of the canbis (hemp) plant. Canbis resin or “hash” is the dried black or brown secretion of the flowering tops of the canbis plant, which is made into a powder or pressed into slabs or cakes. Canbis oil or “hash oil” is canbis resin in liquid form. Canbis is by far the most cultivated, trafficked and abused illicit drug.

Cocaine: It is a fine white or off-white powder that acts as a powerful stimulant. It is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. It can be diluted or “cut” with other substances to increase the quantity. Crack is cocaine that has been further processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbote (baking soda) and looks like small flakes or rocks. Ecstasy: It is a psychoactive stimulant, usually made in illegal laboratories. In fact, the term “ecstasy” has evolved and no longer refers to a single substance but a range of substances similar in effect on users. Frequently, any tablet with a logo is now referred to as “ecstasy” regardless of its chemical makeup. While the drug is usually distributed as a tablet, it can also be a powder or capsule. Tablets can have many different shapes and sizes.

Heroin: It is an addictive drug with pain-killing properties processed from morphine, a turally occurring substance from the opium poppy plant. Pure heroin is a white powder. Street heroin is usually brownish white because it is diluted or “cut” with impurities, meaning each dose is different.

Illicit drugs trade prevails in many parts of the world. There are some areas which are more prone to illicit trade. This is a trade through which many people are earning in an illegal way. Countries around the world are concerned about illicit drugs trade.  The United tions is also concerned about it and there is a special agency to deal with the problem. The United tions Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) selects themes for the Intertiol Day and launches campaigns to raise awareness about the global drug problem.

By resolution 42/112 of 7th December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the Intertiol Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determition to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an intertiol society free of drug abuse. This resolution recommended further action with regard to the report and conclusions of the 1987 Intertiol Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The theme for this year is ‘Lets Develop — Our Lives — Our Communities — Our Identities — Without Drugs’.

In his message Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of UN has mentioned that “We must address the nexus between illicit drugs and violence, corruption and terrorism. A balanced approach recognizes the close connections between those who traffic in drugs and crimil networks involved in firearms smuggling, kidpping, human trafficking and other crimes.  This work must also include redoubling efforts to prevent the supply of the precursor chemicals that are the foundation of so many illicit drugs.” He also said that “promoting intertiol cooperation through the UN conventions on transtiol organized crime and corruption is essential to addressing today’s security and development challenges. No crimil should escape justice. The balanced approach calls for unity of purpose within the intertiol community, including the UN, civil society and, most importantly, the world’s tions.  No country can work in isolation. Comprehensive and integrated efforts at the local, regiol and global levels offer the best hope for dealing with the traffickers, while taking care to protect vulnerable groups and margilized communities. On the Intertiol Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, let us raise awareness about the value of applying a balanced approach to these problems based on an understanding that sustaible development can and must catalyze change across all these fronts”, added Ban Ki moon .

We can build a society free from illegal drugs and the illicit trade related to it.  It is not possible for the government to control everything when it comes to illegal drugs. Hence concerned individuals apart from non-governmental organizations, civil society organization, media, corporate houses and others must extend their support to make a society free from drugs.  Together we can make a society free from illegal drugs.

(With direct inputs from UNODC and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)