Divyansh Verma
“Drugs take you to hell disguised as heaven: Donald Frost.”
Chitta, chemically diacetylmorphine and diamorphine, is an opioid synthesized from the dried latex of the opium poppy, mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. It can be injected into the veins, snorted, smoked, or inhaled. Common side effects can be respiratory depression, dry mouth, drowsiness, impaired mental function, etc.
If injected, it may lead to infected heart valves, blood borne infections, and pneumonia. The rush is usually convoyed by a warm flushing of the skin and a heavy feeling in the extremities. In some cases, nausea, vomiting, and severe itching may also occur. After the intake, the user will be lethargic for several hours with clouded mental function and slower heart functioning, and it may sometimes lead to life-threatening situations. Slower breathing can sometimes lead to coma and permanent brain damage.
Long-term use may affect decision-making abilities, aptitude to regulate behavior, and responses to stressful conditions. It also produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence. Tolerance occurs when more and more of the drug is required to achieve similar effects. With this, the body adapts to the presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms may occur if use is reduced abruptly.
Jammu has become the new hub for this opioid drug. In the past few years, approximately 13.50 lakh people have been involved in drug abuse, out of which 1.68 lakh fall within the age group of 10 to 17 years, as per the reports of the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment. Hundreds of deaths have been reported due to the overdosage of this drug. Mounting joblessness and stress may be the key reasons, with a lack of awareness and education furthermore posing a stern threat to the present and coming generations of the region.
The drug consumption exploded in the past few years all of a sudden due to the dormant policies of unemployment/lack of awareness programs by the bureaucratic setup in J&K. From Lakhanpur to Poonch and from R.S. Pura to Kishtwar, Chitta drug has reached every nook and corner of the region. Every day we see in the news the suppliers are being caught red-handed, but it has spread like a virus, multiplying at a much faster rate. Pakistan is playing the major role in supplying this drug and might be using this money for antinational/terrorist activities in the region.
The main route might be the cross-border illegal trade before entry from the border areas, as most of the part of Jammu province shares its boundaries with Pakistan. Not even a single day is there when we don’t get the news of this drug menace. What is awful is the key participation of women in dealing and consuming this drug as well. Jammu has become the trouble spot, and now the time is not so far off that people will call Jammu “Udta Jammu”, since the majority are below the age group of 20-25 years. The genetic makeup of the future generations will be altered if not controlled.
Glorifying drugs in acts/movies/songs has turned out to be a new trend these days. This drug abuse is encouraging different types of crimes every single day in the Jammu region, like snatching, thefts, extortion, looting, burglary, and whatnot. The penetration of this drug has led to a proxy war within the region. Furthermore, it has created a powerful mafia in the region controlled by hardcore criminals who are delivering these drugs at the cost of lives and not money.
Here and now, there is a democratic setup in J&K, and hopefully the newly elected government will reach out to minimize/curb this drug explosion.
Despite tremendous efforts, the Government hasn’t been able to curb it fully or at a higher pace. Stringent steps could lead to stopping this menace, thus saving the lives of youth and future generations. Immigration of outsiders is also playing a key role in supplying the drug.
Measures to be adopted: Rigorous policies by the government/home department of the region, the role of social organizations/NGOs, vigilant neighbors, friends, social circles, no avoidance/zero tolerance, breaking the supply chain, hardcore punishment for suppliers, social interaction/family interaction, especially with teenagers, visualizing the aftereffects/side effects of drug abuse, etc. All these measures might lead to a drug-free and more affluent generation.
(The author is PhD in Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, SKUAST Jammu)
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