A view of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi. File
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The Supreme Court has sent a special message to the ‘youth of India’ — drug use is not “cool”.
In a year-ender judgment, a Bench headed by Justice B.V. Nagarathna urged adolescents and youngsters “just beginning to explore the world” not to be swayed by images of drug abuse in popular culture.
The court implored youngsters 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”.
“The consumption of drugs in popular culture has propelled the cultural push towards a dangerous lifestyle, one that incorrigibly applauds drug use as ‘cool’ and a fashionable display of camaraderie,” Justice Nagarathna observed in a recent judgment.
The verdict conveyed the sadness and weariness of watching vulnerable children turn to drugs as a recreation or even as a means of escapism from emotional distress and academic or peer pressure.
Multiple cases
The judgment was based on a petition filed by a drug case accused who challenged the cancellation of his bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. There were multiple cases of cross-border narco-terrorism alleged against the man. One of the FIRs concerned a recovery of 500 kg heroin smuggled into India through Gujarat and Punjab in a meticulously planned manner. The cases are currently being prosecuted by the National Investigation Agency.
The apex court expressed an “earnest disquiet” about the shadow of drug use lengthening across the breadth and length of the country. The court said the unprecedented scale of coordination and profit-seeking by drug syndicates has sustained this menace.
“From heroin and synthetic drugs to prescription medication abuse, India is grappling with an expanding drug trade and a rising addiction crisis. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s 2019 report on ‘Magnitude of Substance Use in India’ revealed that nearly 2.26 crore people use opioids in India,” the court noted.
It said States like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Odisha largely bear the brunt of the menace.
“Addiction at a young age can derail academic, professional and personal aims, leading to long-term socio-economic instability of almost an entire generation. The psychological impact of drug abuse, including depression, anxiety and violent tendencies, further exacerbates the problem,” the court explained.
Published – December 23, 2024 08:26 pm IST