Remedial Measures For preventing Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

Like any other socio-legal problem, the problem of drug addiction and abuse is a complex problem. Besides the legislative measures for combating this menace, some other remedial measures to help, to a large extent, in preventing this evil are as follows:

1. There is dire need to evolve an effective control mechanism to check unrestricted production of drugs and their sale in open markets. The present licensing system has proved inadequate in exercising proper control on the producers of drugs especially cannabis and alcohol.

2. As stated earlier, lack of proper enforcement and implementation of related legislation on drugs has resulted into steady increase in drug and alcohol menace. For this purpose, there is greater need to muster public support and co-operation through active publicity programmes.

3. Perhaps the best remedy to contain this evil is to educate people about the harmful effects of drug addiction and consumption of liquor. This kind of education would be most beneficial for the adolescents and school or college going students. The voluntary social organisations and mass-media can also usefully impart this education. Scientifically correct knowledge and education about evil effects of intoxication and drug-addiction should, in fact, form a part of regular curriculum at the school level.

4. Early detection of drug addicts and their prompt treatment and resocialisation may help to prevent drug addiction to a large extent. The role of social organisations in rehabilitating the drug addicts need hardly to be emphasized. The Government of India is providing liberal grants to the State Governments to start drug de-addiction centers. As the problem of drug abuse is very acute especially in North-Eastern Region, the Government has decided to give 100 per cent assistance to these States.

At present 94 Drug de-addiction Centres are being run in 20 States and in Delhi by non-government organisations. The Ministry of Welfare provides grants to voluntary organisations for this purpose. These Centres are actively involved in the task of treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts.