Collective efforts needed to protect youth from drug abuse: Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla

The statement by Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, emphasizing collective efforts and awareness to combat drug abuse among youth, brings to the forefront a critical social challenge plaguing India. While seemingly a general call to action, it underscores the severity of a problem that has deep roots and wide-ranging implications for the nation's demographic dividend and social fabric.

The **background context** for this concern is alarming. India is strategically located between the 'Golden Crescent' (Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan) and the 'Golden Triangle' (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand), two major illicit opium-producing regions. This geographical proximity makes India a significant transit route for drug trafficking, leading to a spillover effect within its borders. States like Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and the North-Eastern states are particularly vulnerable due to their border locations or tourism appeal, which often attracts drug peddlers. Over the past few decades, there has been a noticeable increase in drug abuse, shifting from traditional substances like opium and cannabis to synthetic drugs such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and pharmaceutical drugs, which are often cheaper and more accessible. Factors like peer pressure, unemployment, easy availability of drugs, breakdown of traditional family structures, and lack of recreational facilities contribute to this growing menace, especially among the youth.

The Governor's call for 'collective efforts' and 'awareness' is a recognition that the problem cannot be tackled by law enforcement alone. **Key stakeholders** involved in this fight are multi-faceted. The **Central and State Governments** play a pivotal role through various ministries like the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), which is the nodal ministry for drug demand reduction, and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), responsible for supply reduction. **Law enforcement agencies** such as the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), state police forces, and border security forces (BSF) are crucial for interdiction and dismantling drug networks. **Health departments** are vital for de-addiction and rehabilitation services. **Educational institutions** (schools, colleges) are on the frontline for prevention and early intervention, educating students about the dangers of drug abuse. **Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)** provide ground-level support, running awareness campaigns, de-addiction centers, and rehabilitation programs. Finally, **parents and families** are the primary caregivers, responsible for fostering a supportive environment and identifying early signs of drug abuse. The **youth themselves** are both the target of protection and powerful agents of change when empowered with information and positive alternatives.

This issue **matters significantly for India** on several fronts. Socially, drug abuse leads to severe health consequences, mental health issues, increased crime rates, domestic violence, and the erosion of family values. Economically, it results in a loss of productivity, increased healthcare expenditure, and a burden on the justice system. From a national security perspective, drug trafficking is often linked to organized crime, terrorism financing, and money laundering, posing a serious threat to internal security. Most critically, India has the world's largest youth population, a potential 'demographic dividend.' Drug abuse threatens to convert this dividend into a demographic disaster, impacting the nation's future workforce and intellectual capital. The **historical context** of drug control in India dates back to colonial times with acts like the Opium Act of 1857 and the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1930. However, the most significant legislation is the **Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985**, enacted to fulfill India's obligations under international conventions and provide stringent provisions for the control and regulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The Act has been amended multiple times to adapt to evolving challenges.

From a constitutional perspective, **Article 47 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)** mandates that the State shall endeavor to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health. This article provides the constitutional bedrock for drug control policies. Furthermore, the **Seventh Schedule** of the Constitution places narcotics in the Union List (Entry 59) concerning cultivation and manufacture for export, while public health and law and order fall under the State List (Entry 6 and Entry 1, respectively). Criminal law and criminal procedure are on the Concurrent List (Entry 1 and Entry 2). The right to life and personal liberty under **Article 21** also extends to the right to health and dignity, which is relevant for the rehabilitation and reintegration of drug users. Recognizing the scale of the problem, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the **National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) 2018-2025** and the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' (NMBA) or Drug-Free India Campaign in 2020, aiming for a multi-pronged strategy focusing on awareness generation, outreach, screening, counseling, and treatment.

The **future implications** necessitate a holistic approach. This includes strengthening cross-border cooperation to curb trafficking, enhancing intelligence sharing, adopting technology for surveillance and monitoring, and investing more in de-addiction and rehabilitation infrastructure. There is a need for a public health approach rather than solely a criminal justice approach to drug users, focusing on harm reduction and reintegration into society. Proactive community engagement, youth empowerment programs, and addressing underlying socio-economic issues like unemployment are crucial for sustainable prevention. The Governor's statement serves as a timely reminder that protecting the youth from drug abuse is not merely a law and order issue but a comprehensive social development challenge requiring sustained political will, inter-agency coordination, and active public participation.