Drug addicts spend Tk 70cr everyday in Bangladesh

Manzurul Alam Mukul: When the `International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking` is being observed in Bangladesh like elsewhere in the world today (Friday) then it is unfortunate that about six million who are drug addicted in Bangladesh spend over Tk 700 million (Tk 70 crore)  every day on illegal narcotics.

Basically, drug abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain.   

Drug abuse is a major public health problem globally. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), between 149 million and 271 million people worldwide use the illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics. The problem has been increasing at alarming rates in recent days, especially among young adults under the age of 30.

It is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions; these majorly include several types of cancer, hemorrhagic stroke and hypertensive heart disease, cardiovascular diseases, liver cirrhosis, neuropsychiatric diseases, etc. According to a report, illegal drug use causes about a quarter of a million deaths per year, and use is highest in developed countries.

The harmful use of drug can also result in harm to other people, such as family members, friends, co-workers and strangers. Moreover, the harmful use of drug results in a significant health, social and economic burden on society at large.

In recent years, drug addiction has significantly increased in the South Asian countries including Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands of youths across Bangladesh are taking drugs on a large scale, sending our society on the verge of ruin.  Daily newspapers and televisions are full of reports of drug network having a turnout of crores (tens of millions) of taka. This agent of human devastation has spread its tentacles to every nock and corner.

There are three types of drugs available in Bangladesh. Opium (like, heroin, phensidyl); Cannabis (ganja, chorosh); sleeping pill (tranquilizer, seduxene). The most common drugs used in Bangladesh are stimulants. The teens are ignorant about variation of drugs. Some of them cannot tell the difference between stimulants and marijuana. There are a large number of young using drugs.

DNC intelligence sources say heroin is the deadliest of drugs in Bangladesh. In recent times, Yaba has gained in popularity and has become a `fashionable` drug. Cough syrup Phensidyl has remained the most popular among the masses because of its low price and easy availability.

According to the police and other sources, the number of addicts in Bangladesh is more than six million who spend over Tk 700 million (70 crore) every day on illegal narcotics.

A study conducted by the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition (JHPN) of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh (ICDDRB) shows that in the capital Dhaka, 79.4 percent of the users are male and 20.6 percent are female.  The study finds that 64.8 percent drug users in the country are unmarried while 56.1percent either students or unemployed, 95.4% percent users smokers and 85.7 percent get into drugs under the influence of friends; 65.8 percent addicted to various codeine-containing cough syrups.

According sources with different health facilities, nowadays nearly 10 per cent of outpatients in hospitals are cases of drug addiction involving heroin, ganja and phensidyl.

The trend of consuming drugs is higher in youth and teenagers between 15-30 years of age and come from all strata of the society. Students are the most victim of drug abuse that lowers standards of education and attendance at schools and colleges.  There are a number of reasons why a teenager might try drugs. The leading causes include curiosity and excitement through use, despair and frustration for continuous failure in works or economic insolvency,  some are addicts because they try to follow the western culture of drugs and enjoyment of life, poverty, easy access to drugs, surrounding atmosphere, estranged in love and even mental stress due to family problem. 

According to police sources, more than 100,000 people are directly involved with illegal drug trade and supplying. Peddlers prefer women and children for carrying and selling drugs because it is easier for them to evade law enforcers, sources said.

Many experts believe that Bangladesh is often used as a transit point for international drug trafficking, making the country vulnerable to drug abuse.  Bangladesh is situated in the central point between golden crescent (Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Iran) in terms of geographical location.  And it is also surrounded by the major drug producing countries of Asia, many of which are strengthening their narcotics and stepping up enforcement measures.  Traffickers who supply drugs in the markets of Northern America, Africa and Europe are making their shipments through Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Khulna, Jessore and other routes in Bangladesh.

So, in near future, Bangladesh will face a catastrophe if the alarming drug abuse is not effectively checked through extensive motivation and prevention.


About the irrational behavior and drug addiction, many social scientists blame the examples set by their elders. Firstly, parents and elders who drink and smoke are, in effect, telling their children and juniors that it is a socially acceptable behaviour. Consequently they may have a similar view towards illegal drugs, even if their parents and guardians are against their use. 

In addition, drug use shown on television, films, magazines and public displays can only attract children, if not confuse them, about the serious health-hazards that are associated with drug abuse.

Roles of the department of narcotics control, police, RAB and BGB are not up to the satisfactory level.

June 26 is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987, this day serves as a reminder of the goals agreed to by Member States of creating an international society free of drug abuse.

The theme for this year’s celebration is dubbed ‘Let’s Develop our Lives, our Communities without Drugs’.

So, it is need to execute properly execution of the related law against the spreading of drugs throughout the world including Bangladesh. Side-by-side all conscious people irrespective of classes and professions including parents, teachers, religious and political leaders, players and sports personalities will come ahead to create social awareness and expedite the anti-drug movement to save our future generation from the aggression of the drugs.

risingbd/DHAKA/June 26, 2015