The role of society in preventing drug abuse

Prof W Nabakumar *

Art work by Phurailatpam Banti created on International Day against Drugs Abuse and Illicit Trafficking :: June 26 2011 -

To analyze the topic thoroughly some issues may be discussed first keeping in view the relationship between the society and drug abusers. In the over-all view of the society, drugs abusers are its aberrant members who do not follow its rules and norms. Here, it may be mentioned that drug abusers are products of the society. Under what social conditions do they emerge as products of the society? It is the question which is asked naturally. A thorough discussion of this question will make clear the basis on which the society can take up measures to prevent drug abuse.

The aberrant members of a society are not born thus. They acquire this aberrant trait while growing up in the society. Emotional disturbance arising out of acquiring this aberrant trait may turn them into drug abusers or thieves. Swift changes in economy, technology and the society as a whole have brought a change in people's lifestyles, which in turn, have brought a change in the nature and the character of the family, the most essential part of the society.

The change in the relationship between parents and children brought about by these developments are clearly visible. The increasing mechanization of this relationship between parents and children lessening the emotional link between them is a major factor which makes the youth takes the wrong path along with their like-minded friends and acquaintances.

It cannot be denied that in today's Manipuri society, the greatest factor which makes children take the wrong path is the idea that money is the end of life, money is everything, money can mould a child's destiny and parents perform their duty providing their children with everything money can buy.

Look at closely the thinking of the parents who send their children to schools which they consider good outside the state as they are occupied in earning money and do not spare the time to spend with them, handing over the responsibility of grooming their children properly to these schools, is clear shirking of their parental duty. It not only creates emotional disturbance in children but also destroys their emotional security. Loss of emotional security makes a child take the wrong path.

In poor families, the inability of parents to groom and educate their children properly has led the children to take wrong paths as they wish. When they cannot see any hope getting anything from their families, these children start acquiring negative traits and abusing drugs.

In middle class families, trying to get the goal of life has become mechanical and changes have occurred in the relationship between husband and wife, between parents and children. All these factors make the growing youth choose mistaken goals in life.

The erosion in the nature and character of the family, changes in lifestyles and new goals of life have laid the foundation of a restless way of life in the society. Above all, a way of living in which the means do not meet the end is apparent in today's Manipuri society. As the society cannot provide the means to achieve the new goals of life, a way of living in which goodness and righteousness are suppressed is developed in the society. In such a social condition, the youth cannot be taught what is wrong or right.

The current trend of taking evil for goodness has loosened the youth's moral value. When their families cannot give them emotional security and the collective consciousness of the society cannot help them to decide the question of right and wrong, nothing can prevent the youth from taking the wrong path.

An issue which may be mentioned here is the denial of social ownership for the untoward incidents happening as everybody considers individualism more important than collectivism. Lack of courage on the part of parents to correct their children when they commit wrongs and the habit of concealing their children's wrongs when others try to correct them to save their prestige are important factors which make children take the wrong path.

It is high time for everyone to consider and understand the future of the society if the eroding conditions of the society and its unit, the family make the youth abuse drugs for a moment's pleasure. The question of what can be done to save the society burdened with the problem of drug abuse can be discussed here.

It may be noted that there are laws to punish those who do not follow the accepted social rules. They are given the chance to correct themselves or even given harsh punishment so that they return to normal life. Does the responsibility of the society to prevent drug abuse end here? The short and simple answer is no. Then what more can the society do in this matter? To analyse, it is essential to understand the overall structure of the society. The smallest unit of a society is the individual. The smallest unit of a society is the individual.

Man and woman marry and raise a family of their own with their off-springs. Families join together to form bigger units - relatives, clans, communities and villages. Then it can be said that to correct the mistakes and weaknesses o the society, these social units have to play an important role and the individual who forms these units has today an even more important role to play.

Changes in social norms are brought by the course of time. It cannot be taken for granted that every change will bring only the good with it. The change is not good if it disturbs the existing social norms. If the change in people's lifestyles causes erosion in social life, it is not in the right course.

Therefore, if the erosion of family and social values leads the youth, the future pillars of the society in going astray, it is the duty of the society and its members to prevent them from abusing drugs and going astray by reviving the eroding family as well as social structures and values, enabling them to settle moral questions properly.

Another important duty is to make the people, especially the youth to understand the new kinds of drugs available due to technological advance and their impact on the society through different means. For instance, if adequate knowledge about the harms caused by drug abuse on health, the family and the society is given to all, many people will be prevented from using them and going astray.

Lastly, when everyone irrespective of sex or age takes it as a social not individual responsibility to fight drug abuse and correct its consequences, a healthy society can be developed and the lives of many who have fallen and may fall in the deadly grip of drugs can be saved.

(Courtesy: Reminder published by AMADA)