Punjab, a state in the northwestern part of India, has been determined as one of the regions with the highest drug consume in the country. The high percentage of drug consume in Punjab turns out to be related to the increase of unemployment.
As reported by Eurasia, the number of drug addiction in Punjab is high, especially on rural households. Statistics from the Department of Social Security Development of Women and Children in India reveals 67% of rural households in Punjab have at least one drug addict in the family.
According to the site, there are several types of drug abuse in Punjab, a few of which are Bhuki, a getaway drug made from wild grass that is mostly consumed by young people; heroin; ophium; and morphin. Nicontine has also made it to the list which Indians consume from toothpaste. Research also shows that four out of ten men are addicted to other drugs.
Meanwhile, 70% of the youth in the age group of 15 and 35 is in severe drug addiction. In Punjab, Opium tops the list of the most consumed drugs with a total of 964 kg out to total of 2,333 kg during the last one year. Heroin is the second highest with 737 kg out of 1,450 kg. The third is Ganja with 737 kg out of 4,592 kg.
In contrary, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Bada, with the survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Social Welfare in collaboration with AIIMS, cited that only 0,06 % of the youth in Punjab are into drug abuse. According to India Express, he said that it was because of the Anti Punjab Campaign that was launched by AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
On the other side, India TV news reported that what Sukhbir Badal said about the percentage of drug abuse in Punjab is a lie. From the data provided by AIIMS study released in the month of January, it is clearly found that opioids and other synthetic derivatives worth Rs 7,500 crore are consumed in Punjab every year.
The main causes of this condition are unemployment and frustrated economic expectations. Surpisingly, these reasons are unexpected because Punjab is well known as one of the most prosperous region among other regions in India. .
Based on the information from Eurasia, the cultural factor plays a rule to this condition. Culture for heavy drinking and partying is also assumed as another factor . It is also supported by the accessable drugs in this region. From the geographic side, Punjabi is one of the region that could be easily access by other countries. This means drugs transaction could be easier. A steady supply of drugs from across the border plays an important rule.
Those several factors are related to the drug consume in Punjab. Among those things, the high rate of unemployment is the key factor. Nevertheless, the exact percentage of drug abuse in Punjab is still being argued.
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