Srinagar, Aug 24: The abuse of alcohol and drugs has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality among adolescents, the High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Thursday said, underlining that “concerned agencies hand-in-hand with the community heads” are required to come forward and deal with this menace with iron hand to save the society more particularly the young generation and families.“The menace of illicit drug activities is a social problem that harms youth and their families, and the money it generates is diverted for disruptive activities that have bearings on national security,” a bench of Justice M. A. Chowdhary said while dismissing a petition challenging detention of order dated March 4 this year by oneTawqeer Bashir Magray of Nowshara Boniyar Baramulla under Section -3 of Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act 1988.“The abuse of alcohol and drugs has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality among adolescents worldwide. Many of these youth lose their lives to drugs and narcotics and a significant numbers are likely to grow up to become drug addicts,” the court said, adding, “No part of the world is free from the curse of drug addiction.” Drug abuse, the court said, has emerged as a serious concern globally, adversely affecting the physical and socio-economic well-being of the country.“It has severe repercussions on public health across various sections of the society. The epidemic of drug abuse in younger generation has assumed alarming dimensions in the country,” the court said, adding, “Prevention of drug abuse among adolescents requires awareness about its destructive results.”To overcome the menace of drug abuse, the court said, “concerned agencies hand-in-hand with the community heads are required to come forward and deal with this menace with iron hand to save the society more particularly the young generation and families.”The Court noted that the detenue was found actively involved in illegal business of drugs and the detaining authority after keeping in view his activities detained him under preventive custody.
