DPM Lamichhane sees need for special plan to curb narcotic drug trafficking and abuse

Kathmandu: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane has instructed the security agencies to formulate a special plan to end the smuggling and abuse of narcotic drugs.

At a programme organized at his office marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Wednesday, DPM Lamichhane directed the police to take stringent action against those involved in the smuggling and supply of illegal substances.

Commending the efficient delivery of the security agencies despite limited resources, Lamichhane expressed his commitment to arranging adequate budget and human resources for them to deliver optimally and more effectively. He asserted that the government, community and general public had an equal role in curbing drug addiction, saying opportunity would be given for narcotic drug abusers to improve themselves while those who deal in it would not be spared.

Arguing that we could not reach the right destination by walking on the wrong path, the DPM urged those in drug addiction to give up on drugs and play the role of a social reformer. He informed that various initiatives and campaigns were being run to prevent and control drug abuse and admitted that the increasing numbers of abusers indicate that there is a lapse somewhere.

The DPM and Home Minister lauded the role of rehabilitation centres in freeing the abusers from the cycle of drug addiction and rehabilitating them in society and opined that such centres should not make their treatment services a business.

On the occasion, he honoured various organizations actively working towards curbing the smuggling of illegal drugs and rehabilitating drug abusers.

Similarly, Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Yadav asserted that the issue of illegal transportation and consumption of narcotic drugs and their abuse had become a challenge for Nepal. He highlighted the need for the entire country to unite to fight against its abuse.

Mentioning that the government of Nepal was capable of taking out youths of Nepal from the vicious cycle of drug addiction, the Minister urged the non-government agencies to coordinate efforts with the government to work on this cause.

Likewise, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sumana Shrestha viewed that parents and peers should be aware of the situations in which young students could turn to narcotic drug abuse to fill the emotional void. She emphasized the collective efforts of the country, society and families to rehabilitate drug abusers.

Minister for Youth and Sports Birajbhakta Shrestha assessed that youths who were in dissonance with society, culture and families often fell into drug addiction and thus spoke of the need to connect them with various aspects of society. He pointed out the need for all political parties to come on board to work in the campaign against smuggling and abuse of illegal drugs.

On the occasion, plays, cultural programmes and rallies were organized to raise awareness of the effects of drug consumption on the country, society and families. Furthermore, a magazine named ‘Surakshit Jivan’ (Safe Life) published by the Ministry of Home Affairs was launched.

The magazine contains various aspects of controlling the abuse of drugs. The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is being observed all over the world with the slogan ‘The evidence is clear: Invest in Prevention’.

In Nepal, the Day is being marked all over the country for a week with several programmes. According to the Nepal Drug Users Survey conducted in 2019, as many as 130,424 cases of drug abuse were reported as of 2019. Among them, male users accounted for 121,692 while women constituted 8,732.

The Nepal Police Narcotics Control Bureau’s statistics showed that 5,339 people were arrested on narcotics-related charges while 3,501 cases were registered as of mid-June of the current fiscal year 2023/24.