Port Blair: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are staring at a deepening drug crisis that is steadily destroying the future of an entire generation. Even as police continue to seize narcotics and arrest peddlers, addiction is spreading silently among the youth, turning vulnerable lives into a profitable market for traffickers.
Methamphetamine and ganja have reportedly tightened their grip on sections of the Islands’ young population, raising serious concerns about the growing demand for narcotic substances. Observers warn that unless urgent intervention is made, the menace could spread deeper into communities across the territory.
While enforcement agencies have intensified crackdowns on traffickers and suppliers, experts believe the fight against drugs cannot succeed unless the focus also shifts towards consumers and rehabilitation. Every addict sustains demand, and every demand strengthens the illegal drug trade.
A major challenge remains the lack of accessible and standardised de-addiction facilities across the Islands. If authorities are serious about tackling the crisis, treatment and rehabilitation centres must be made available from Diglipur to Campbell Bay so that addicts can access timely help without geographical barriers.
Another concern is that many addicts fail to voluntarily seek treatment, often unable to recognise the severity of their condition due to the grip of addiction itself. This has led to growing calls for stronger legal and institutional intervention.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, provides provisions not only to prosecute traffickers and peddlers but also consumers. Under Section 27 of the Act, consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is a punishable offence.
At the same time, Section 64A of the NDPS Act offers immunity from prosecution to addicts who voluntarily undergo de-addiction treatment. Legal experts believe this provision can become a powerful tool to combine accountability with rehabilitation.
There is increasing opinion that consumers identified during investigations should be given a clear choice — undergo mandatory treatment and rehabilitation or face prosecution under the law. However, such an approach would require adequate treatment infrastructure and monitoring mechanisms to ensure genuine rehabilitation.
Authorities are being urged to adopt a comprehensive anti-drug strategy that goes beyond seizures and arrests by targeting both supply and demand. Without decisive intervention, the addiction cycle is likely to continue trapping more young people and endangering the social fabric of the Islands.
