Drug addiction is becoming a serious problem in the country. One doesn’t need surveys and statistics to bolster one’s argument. Walk along major towns at night, especially, and it is all too apparent. And it is not just young people who are eager to discover unrestrained and often dangerous pleasures and excitements as they are growing up, but there is also a sizeable group of adults who resort to abusing drugs on a daily basis.

What is more worrying, however, is that the very people who are responsible and mandated to stop controlled substances from getting into the country are involved in bringing them in. This is not the first case and, Drug Regulatory Authority not the first office, whose official bypassed the law for some profitable gains he could have.

The police arrested a staff of the Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA) and two other men between October 23 and 27 who were trying to traffic controlled narcotic and psychotropic substances into the country. The DRA staff was caught with 5,020 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon, six bottles of Corex and 15 grams of marijuana at Tsimatsham in Chukha. And again, On October 25, a sports instructor with one of the central schools was caught at Rinchending check post with 126 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon, 10 tablets of Nitrosun and 25 grams of marijuana.

What is interesting and disturbing at the same time is how rapidly drug abuse is becoming a major problem in the country. There must be a reason why drug trafficking is increasing by the year. When young people find no income-earning opportunities, are dissatisfied, and find no purpose in life, drug addiction becomes rampant. This also speaks loudly about our society that is changing rapidly. The blame lies not with one particular person or group. But, how we address this problem is important and it is incumbent on all of us as citizens to counter this problem most efficaciously.

We commend our police force for cracking down on drug trafficking regularly and for urging people not to involve in drugs trafficking or abuse. But police alone cannot solve this growing problem. Our efforts need not only be concerted but also wholeheartedly united. Teachers and parents should be involved in guiding the young ones who could easily be carried away for a bit of momentary pleasure. More importantly, however, we need to build a system where offices do routine inventory of their staff and their behaviours. We should adopt zero tolerance approach to misbehaviour, irresponsibility and complacency.

This proposition might sound a little too crude and overbearing but, if any success could be had from it, we must not hesitate to try. If anything could be read from the social sicknesses that we are facing today, it is upon us to internalise the challenges we are compelled to face. Often, problems become serious when factors outside of it add to its woe.

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