Destruction again

The Israeli strikes across Gaza only evokes grief and horror. What is happening is the result of the failure of global organisations that ought to rein in the aggression and enforce peace. One only wonders what the impact will be on young people also, who will bear many scars.

Deepthika Muraharirao,

Hyderabad

Kerala and drug abuse

While the rise in drug abuse in Kerala is cause for concern, the analysis, “Kerala’s drug menace is widespread and escalating” (‘Datapoint, March 19), presents a misleading picture by relying solely on the number of cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The assumption that an increase in NDPS cases correlates with a rise in drug abuse is simplistic. There are alternative explanations for the increase in registered cases. Enhanced law enforcement efforts is one. Improved tracking, proactive raids, and community reporting contribute to this surge, rather than an actual increase in drug consumption. AI-driven surveillance, digital forensics, and predictive policing have also significantly improved drug detection.

Unlike other States, where recreational drug use is often overlooked, Kerala has a far lower tolerance for substance abuse, leading to stricter enforcement. Émile Durkheim’s collective consciousness theory suggests that societies with strong moral norms criminalise deviant behaviour more aggressively. Thus, Kerala’s high number of NDPS cases could reflect stronger social and legal reactions.

There are also several key indicators that would provide a more accurate picture.

First, the type and quantity of drugs seized. The nature of drug abuse (synthetic drugs versus natural substances) is a crucial factor in assessing the severity of the issue.

Second, conviction rates. A high number of registered cases with a low conviction rate only highlights inefficiencies in the legal system. Third, health-based indicators. Hospital admissions, overdose cases, and rehabilitation centre data are far more reliable measures of drug addiction than case registration statistics.

The core issue here is the framing of the State’s drug menace primarily as a law and order problem, rather than a public health crisis. Kerala ranks low in drug trafficking, but there is no explanation why the State still registers so many cases under the NDPS Act.

There is also the issue of the criminalisation of drug users. Targeting consumers rather than traffickers leads to over-policing and an overcrowded judicial system, without addressing the root causes of addiction. There is also the neglect of harm-reduction strategies. Countries such as Portugal have successfully reduced drug abuse by shifting from punitive approaches to rehabilitation and decriminalisation. Without a similar shift in perspective, law enforcement alone cannot solve the crisis.

Amarnath K.,

Krishnanagar, Nadia, West Bengal