Highest number of addicts in Dhaka
DOT Desk: Dhaka tops the list of divisional headquarters when it comes to drug abuse, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital. With 24.90 per cent drug addicts, Chattagram is listed next to Dhaka, where the percentage of drug abusers is 36.80, reports The Independent. Ironically, the percentage of drug abusers is far more in an area where a lot of measures have already been taken to eradicate the drug menace.
The NIMH conducted a study for the first time to determine the number of addicts in the country. The survey was carried out from July 2007 to June 2018 with financial support from the Directorate General of Health (DGHS). The study reveals that in Dhaka alone, 36.80 per cent of the population are addicted to drugs. The share is 24.90 per cent in Chattagram division, 13.90 per cent in Rangpur division, 7.10 per cent in Rajshahi division, 6.90 per cent in Sylhet division, 6.20 per cent in Khulna division and 4.10 per cent in Barishal division.
The countrywide survey involved a sample of 19,662 individuals above the age of seven years. The year-long research, headed by NIMH director Md Faruk Alam, included five specialist doctors.
According to the study, day labourers (6.7 per cent) form the highest number of drug users. Around 5.7 per cent of unemployed people are drug addicts. It is 4.3 per cent for businesspersons, 3.8 per cent for farmers and 3.5 per cent for service holders .
When contacted, Faruk Alam said: “We conducted a questionnaire survey and asked people some questions approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).”
“All of the survey participants underwent the alcohol smoking and substance screening test (ASSIST),” he added.
DGHS sources said the survey asked 33 questions to the drug addicts with the consent of their guardians. Next, the researchers performed the ASSIST test to determine the nature of drug use and the period over which the abuse had lasted. Lastly, the doctors conducted psychological tests to understand the mental condition of the drug users.
Earlier, after the oath-taking ceremony on January 3, the AL MPs sat in a meeting, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the ongoing campaign against terrorism, corruption and drugs would continue. After this announcement, law enforcers are thinking of stepping up the anti-narcotics drive.
Director general of the Department of Narcotics, Jamal Uddin Ahmed, said: “The NIMH initiative has been good. We’ll organise a similar survey soon.”
According to the NIMH study, the most-used narcotics are weeds (82.90 per cent), liquid alcohol (27.50 per cent), yaba (15.20 per cent), opioids (5.30 per cent) and sleeping pills (3.80 per cent).
From the economic perspective, drug addicts are mostly rich people. The people who spend less than Tk. 7,500 a month comprise 3.2 per cent of drug addicts; those who spend Tk. 7,500 to Tk. 15,000 are 2.6 per cent of the drug addicts; those who earn more than Tk. 15,000 are 3.8 per cent of the addicts.
Around 60 per cent in Chattogram use liquid alcohol. It is 45 per cent in Rajshahi, 28.2 per cent in Rangpur, 25.7 per cent in Khulna, 25. 6 per cent in Dhaka, and 25 per cent in Sylhet.
About 16.8 per cent of individuals above 18 years are victims of physiological disorders caused by drug addiction. Around 17. 8 per cent among children below 18 years fall under this category.
According to the sources, more than 150,000 drug peddlers and users were arrested in 115,000 cases in last year’s anti-drug drive. The police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard and intelligence agencies carried out the anti-drug operations. Three hundred drug dealers were killed in gunfights with RAB and police.
When contacted, RAB director (law and media wing) Mufti Mahmud Khan told The Independent: “Our main target is to evict all the drug traders. If we can control the trading of drug, the rest is easy. Our operations are always on against drugs”.