44pc drug users involved in criminal offences
Speakers at a discussion yesterday said around 44 percent drug users are involved in different types of criminal offences, while smoking is the first step of their life before becoming drug addicted.
Education is the best medicine to return drug-addicted people to normal life and save the young generation from the grip of drug, they said, adding that drug abuse poses a major threat to the fabric of the society.
The speakers said this at the discussion on 'Abuse of drug and the role of education institutions to check drug addiction' organised by Manas, an NGO, at TSC auditorium at Dhaka University.
Home Minister Sahara Khatun, lawmaker Dr Mostafa Jalal Mahiuddin, DU VC Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, film actor Ilias Kanchan and Manas President Dr Arup Ratan Chowdhury spoke at the programme.
Speaking as the chief guest, the home minister said geographically Bangladesh is a route of drug trafficking and it is alarming that the number of drug addicted is increasing day by day.
“Drug addiction is a serious problem in all developed as well as developing countries. All NGOs and socio-cultural organisations will have to assist the government to wipe out drug addiction from the society,” she said.
Prof Arefin said drug addiction is a bio, social and psychological disease which destroys one's life and peace of his or her family.
“Education is the best medicine to create mass campaign against the drug abuse. Education institution is the best place where we can start the campaign for making mass awareness of drug addiction,” he added.
Presenting a keynote paper, Dr Arup said smoking was the first step for 98 percent drug users before becoming the drug addicted.
“Around 44 percent drug users are involved in different types of criminal offences like snatching, kidnapping, mugging, stealing and killing. We will have to be united and work together to eliminate this social stigma,” he added.
He also said that government should take long- and short-term plans to fight the drug addiction.
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