***What is needed at this moment is to mobilise public opinion into a movement against drug abuse and illegal drug traffic. Strong family ties and religious values need to be zealously inculcated in our decadent society if we are to successfully fight this scourge of drugs.***

DESPITE concerted efforts at national, regional and international levels, drug situation everywhere remains grim even at a time when human civilisation has almost reached its peak and we are at the doorsteps of the 21st century with hopes and aspirations for more sustainable development and wellbeing of people at large. In fact, 20th century has been a landmark for the advancement of science and technology. On the other hand, this century has brought many disasters like the greenhouse effect. AIDS, drug menace etc'., posing a serious threat to our hard earned civilisation. Among these, drug menace is a problem that weighs heavily upon the world conscience. To combat this problem. United Nations General Assembly in 1988, in its 48th session, decided to observe the decade from 1990 to 2000 against drug abuse and illegal drug traffic to make the people aware of the disastrous effects of drug abuse and thereby organise a movement against the drug traffickers.

The problem of drug abuse is not confined to a particular geographical location or to a particular section of people. The entire world is affected by it and consequently, it has to be resolved globally. In this connection. United Nations has initiated three international conventions:

(1) single convention on narcotic drugs 1961 as amended by the protocol 1972: (2) convention on psychotropic substances. 1971 and (3) UN convention on narcotic drug and psychotropic substances. 1988.

These conventions have been signed and ratified by many countries including Bangladesh. In addition, in the South Asian region there is another convention known as SAARC Convention 1990.

The objective of these conventions is to have control over the movement of drugs which are lawfully used for medical

and scientific purposes and also to have control over the disposal of seized drugs. International cooperation regarding exchange of information among the signatories to the conventions is also one of the objectives of these conventions. Over and above, under these conventions, the signatories will treat drug 'offence as a criminal offence and in this regard. they will enunciate their rules and regulations.

Bangladesh as a signatory to these conventions has taken a serious vow to eradicate this menace and stringent legislations have been promulgated with the provision for capital punishment for trafficKing more than 25 grams of heroin. This Act came into being in the year 1990 known as Narcotics Control Act 1990. DNC (Department of Narcotics Control) was established in the same year to enforce these regulations.

DNC in fact, has multl-dl-mentional activities like supply reduction, demand reduction, preventive education and treatment and rehabilitation. All these four sectors are equally important for the resolution of the drug problem. In the supply reduction process, availability of drug is being checked with the effective enforcement of drug law in the supply line. Concurrently, through public awareness programmes. the demand for drugs is being reduced. But that is not all. People already addicted to drugs are being treated in drug addict treatment centres. The problem does not end there. Because. after treatment, the relapse rate is alarming which ranges from 60 to 80 per cent. So the question of rehabilitation of drug addicts comes up. The entire process is a gigantic one and a matter of huge financial involvement resulting In a meagre positive output. So it is better to adhere to the old saying "Prevention is better than cure."

What is needed at this mo-

ment is to mobilise public opiniorf into a movement against drug abuse and illegal drug traffic. Strong family ties and religious values need to be zealously inculcated in our decadent society if we are to successfully fight this scourge of drugs.

A drug addict is also a member of some family. So the primary responsibility lies with the guardian of the family. Dysfunctional relationship between parents, lack of proper parental care and guidance due to their pre-occupation with work, bad company, lack of proper recreational facilities, degeneration of religious values etc. are some of the reasons why youngsters feel tempted to experiment with drugs. It is relevant to mention here that even in western societies they are

trying to bring back these values to free their nations from the clutches of the drug menace. Fortunately. our family bondage is still stronger than in the western world- What we need now is to uphold our traditional values which can really help eradicate the drug problem.

We should bear in mind that drug abuse is a curse from which no country and no section of modern society is immune. Stamping it out is going to be a slow and painstaking process. It requires co-operation between governments, law enforcement agehcles. professionals, educational institutions and families.'

The writer is Deputy Director, Narcotics Control.