Recent figures show that Thimphu tops the list in the number of drug abusers.
The figures of drug abusers interviewed in the communities under the National Baseline Assessment (NBA) carried out by Bhutan Narcotic Control Agency (BNCA) show that Thimphu tops with 350, followed by 169 in Chhukha, 89 in Paro and 84 in Sarpang.
Meanwhile Wangduephodrang has 14 and Zhemgang 8.
The number of drug abusers has been increasing steadily over the past few years in the capital, according to police officials.
Even the cases of death caused by drug overdose are reported on an average of more than 5 a year.
The arrest figures have also seen a rise over the years: 163 in 2006, 219 in 2007 and 268 in 2008. Last year the figure shot up to 401 and till January 2010, 27 drug abusers were arrested.
Major Dorji Khandu of Narcotic Drugs Law Enforcement Unit said that factors leading to the menace are ignorance of existing laws, lack of adequate knowledge on the dangers of drug abuse, plus lack of guidance from the parents.
“With the help of the drug abuse test kit we have been able to detect more numbers of drug addicts,” he added.
In the capital the maximum number of cases dealing with drug dealers and drug abusers are reported from the main town, followed by Changzamto, Motithang and Langhopakha, according to him.
Though there are more males into drugs, over the years there has been an increase in the number of the female abusers too.
According to the penal code of Bhutan, under Section 500, offenders abusing or possessing drugs will be jailed for a month to three years. And under Section 498, trafficking of drugs is a 2nd degree felony liable to 9 to 15 years of imprisonment.
The most popular marijuana use is followed by pharmaceutical drugs, solvents and injections.
Eighty percent of drug abusers are the youth.
Joint Director of Demand Reduction Division, Chhador Wangdi, said that most alcoholics progress to drug abuse.
According to him, most drug abusers are unemployed class X and XII dropouts.
The other factors due to which people start abusing drugs are peer pressure, frustration and competition.
Tshering, a private employee and mother of two said that most of the youth these days view drugs as casual fun and that illegal prescription drugs find their way to the capital through the Phuentsholing border gate from India.
“Parents should play a greater role in addressing this issue.”
Ugyen, a business man, said that many parents seem to be unaware of possible trysts their children may have with drugs while some live in denial.
“Due to drugs many youth have died abroad and one should take up the issue seriously.”
Some parents were of the opinion that literature that encourages youth to try drugs should be strictly supervised and the communication gap between parents and children should be resolved in order to curb the growing menace.
By Chencho Dema in Thimphu
