Substance abuse: Rehabilitate affected youth, instead of demonising them, says SC

Expressing concern over substance abuse in the country, the Supreme Court on Monday said it should not be treated as a taboo and emphasised the need to rehabilitate the youngsters affected, instead of demonising them.

“No longer should drug abuse be treated as a taboo that parents disengage from. Instead, open discussions about drug use and its ill consequences will provide parents and children a safe space and equip children with the knowledge to help themselves out of peer pressure,” a Bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice N Kotiswar Singh said.

“It is sad that vulnerable children turn to drugs as an escapism from emotional distress and academic pressures or due to peer pressure. The unfortunate reality is that victims of substance abuse are not limited to the unfortunate ones who have fallen prey to it but also include their family and peers. Our approach towards the victims of drug abuse must not be to demonize the victims but to rehabilitate them,” the Bench said.

“For youngsters just beginning to explore the world, the consumption of drugs in popular culture has propelled the cultural push towards a dangerous lifestyle, one that incorrigibly applauds drugs use as ‘cool’ and a fashionable display of camaraderie. We implore the youth to take charge of their decisional autonomy and firmly resist peer pressure and desist from emulation of certain personalities who may be indulging in drugs,” it said, while pronouncing its verdict denying bail to a man accused in a case involving 500 kilogrammes of heroin being smuggled from Pakistan to India.

It emphasised the need for schools and colleges to aid the government programmes in educating students about the perils of drug abuse. “They must include prevention of drug abuse in their curriculum, focusing on the physical, emotional, and legal consequences of drug abuse,” it added.

The Bench said, “It is an urgent need that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s framework of National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction and other programs are given a boost and truly imbibed in drug education programs run by schools and colleges in the country.”

“We note our disquiet regarding substance abuse in India. Profits are being used to support terrorism and leading to violence. Academic pressure and family disturbances are also leading to the same, which is leading to long-term social and economic instability. Peer pressure, stress from academics and easy availability of drugs is a trigger and adolescents are also using it as emotional escapism,” it said.

The top court asked the National Legal Services Authority and State Legal Authorities to devise awareness programs and implement them particularly in vulnerable regions of the states and territories more exposed to drug menace. It also emphasised the role of parents in weaning youngsters away from drug abuse.

The Bench said, “There is a need for more synergies along the lines of Joint Action Plan on “Prevention of Drugs and Substance Abuse among Children and Illicit Trafficking” developed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in collaboration with Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).”

It asked local communities to work with NGOs and law enforcement agencies to create awareness campaigns that address the risks of drug abuse with a special focus on schools and youth centres. “Either through awareness campaigns, community outreach or peer education, communities can play a critical role in creating knowledgeable safe spaces that curb the use of drugs,” it said.