June 26 is observed as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. In 1987, the United Nations General Assembly decided to commemorate June 26 as a day to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drugs and to combat illicit drug trafficking. Since 1988, the day has been observed across the world.

Drug abuse is one of the most pressing challenges confronting Bangladesh’s national life. Drug addiction is a silent killer. It gradually destroys individuals and devastates families, communities and nations. In the current context, the spread of drugs across the country has assumed alarming proportions, extending its destructive branches like a cursed tree.

A significant portion of Bangladesh’s youth population has fallen prey to the grip of drugs. Many young people who could have brought pride to their families, contributed to society and national development, and emerged as assets through their talent and intellect are instead being destroyed by drug addiction. Worse still, they are shattering the dreams and happiness of their families.

Drug abuse plays a leading role in turning peaceful and prosperous families into scenes of despair. Today, a vast segment of the country’s young generation has been stung by this poisonous scourge.

A drug is any substance that reduces the sensitivity of the brain and creates temporary stimulation in the body when used or administered. Alongside its pain-relieving effects, drug use may cause drowsiness, euphoria, irritability, mental confusion, respiratory depression, low blood pressure, memory loss, vomiting, constipation and numerous other complications. In simple terms, any substance that adversely affects a person’s normal physical and mental state and creates dependency is considered a drug.

Drug addiction is a condition in which a person becomes habituated to using a substance and experiences discomfort or restlessness when unable to consume it at regular intervals. A drug-dependent individual often exhibits various withdrawal symptoms when deprived of the substance. Research suggests that people between the ages of 15 and 35 are most vulnerable to addiction, accounting for approximately 70 percent of drug users. The average age of first drug use is around 22 years.

According to experts, several behavioral and lifestyle changes may indicate drug addiction. These include suddenly associating with a new group of friends, frequently asking for money under various pretexts, returning home late, staying awake at night and sleeping during the day, displaying unusual behavior upon waking, reduced appetite and weight loss, excessive consumption of sweets, frequent tea and cigarette use, spending unusually long periods in the bathroom, recurrent diarrhea, excessive sleepiness, restlessness, loss of interest in sexual activity, decreased sexual capability, a tendency to lie, constant conflicts with family members, irritability, sudden mood swings, and the presence of suspicious items such as cigarette butts, plastic or glass bottles, paper packets, syringes, empty vials, and burnt matchsticks.

A decline in interest in studies, sports, and cultural activities, as well as foul-smelling clothes and burn marks, are also warning signs. The presence of multiple such indicators strongly suggests possible drug addiction.

The hands that should be engaged in creativity and social development are now increasingly being used to consume deadly narcotics. Drug users and traffickers not only destroy society but also shatter family peace and happiness.

A tragic example is the widely publicized case of Oishee Rahman, the yaba-addicted daughter of Police Inspector Mahfuzur Rahman, who, in August 2013, murdered both her parents in their Chamelibagh residence with the help of friends in order to obtain money for drugs. Numerous similar incidents demonstrate how addiction can destroy otherwise happy and prosperous families. Many parents, overwhelmed by the abuse and violence of drug-addicted children, have even sought legal assistance to have their own sons or daughters imprisoned.

There is no completely reliable statistic regarding the actual number of drug addicts in Bangladesh. However, according to the Department of Narcotics Control, the number exceeds 7.5 million. Of them, around 80 percent are between the ages of 18 and 30, meaning approximately four million are young people.

Why do people become addicted to drugs? There is no single cause. However, if one primary factor is identified, it would be the easy availability of drugs. Behind this accessibility operates an organized network of criminal syndicates that deliberately distribute narcotics to maximize profits.

According to sociologists, drug addiction is a by-product of market-driven greed, where vested interests seek enormous illicit profits. Beyond this, numerous socio-economic, political, cultural, and psychological factors contribute to addiction.

In post-independence Bangladesh, the complexities created by rapid urbanization, the negative influence of violent student politics, manipulation by political actors, reckless behavior in the name of modernity, terrorism, frustration, and social conflict have all facilitated the spread of drug abuse. Additionally, peer pressure, family instability, social and psychological distress, and Bangladesh’s use as a transit route for drug trafficking are considered major contributing factors.

A survey conducted by the World Health Organization found that the tendency to use drugs is often higher among children from affluent families. For many privileged youths, drug use is perceived as a symbol of status and sophistication. They seek pleasure and escape through intoxication. The biochemical reactions triggered by drugs in the bloodstream create sensations of warmth, excitement, and euphoria. Over time, these temporary pleasures lead to severe dependency.

Among educated and otherwise aware drug users in Bangladesh, many mistakenly believe that drug consumption sharpens the mind, enhances creativity and increases productivity. Such arguments generally reflect psychological weakness rather than reality.

Drug addiction may result from a single factor or more commonly, from multiple interconnected causes. In many cases, a lack of parental affection, emotional support, family harmony and financial stability acts as a catalyst for addiction.

The consequences of drug addiction are devastating at the individual, family, social, and national levels. Drug dependency creates a wide range of problems in personal and public life. When a young person becomes addicted, their hidden potential is often destroyed before it can flourish. By drifting away from prevailing social values, moral principles, and ethical standards under the influence of drugs, individuals effectively choose a path of self-destruction. When a nation’s most promising segment becomes addicted, it poses a serious threat regardless of whether the country is developed or developing.

Social analysts have identified several harmful consequences of drug abuse:

First, drug use damages physical and mental health while eroding moral values and encouraging criminal behavior. Certain substances make young users feel unusually powerful. Combined with impaired judgment, this false sense of power can lead to serious crimes and anti-social activities. Many eventually become involved in extortion, robbery, theft, murder, black-market operations, prostitution, and other grave offenses.

Second, drug addiction gradually weakens an individual physically, mentally, and economically. It often leaves people isolated, socially marginalized, and deprived of dignity. Dependency damages health, causes diseases, reduces body weight and strength, diminishes appetite, lowers motivation, and impairs judgment. Over time, users become increasingly unhealthy and move toward premature death.

Third, drugs inflict extensive damage on the human body. Alcohol, for instance, gradually destroys digestive functions, reduces appetite, alters physical appearance, weakens the nervous system, and increases overall physical incapacity. Long-term alcohol abuse can severely damage the liver and kidneys and eventually render a person incapable of productive work.

Drug abuse is also linked to the spread of life-threatening diseases such as AIDS. The unrestricted use and illicit trafficking of drugs constitute a complex, multidimensional, and international problem. Drug consumption and smuggling transcend national boundaries, religions, races, and social classes. No country—rich or poor, developed or developing—is immune from the devastating impact of drugs.

The rapid spread of drug addiction among students in schools, colleges, and universities is particularly alarming. If decisive action is not taken now, it may become exceedingly difficult to control in the future.

One cannot help but ask: Why do young men and women, whose parents sacrifice so much to send them to reputable colleges and universities, become addicted to drugs?

To reverse this trend, moral and human values must be integrated into educational curricula. Young people should receive holistic education that enables them to realize their aspirations and become job creators rather than merely job seekers.

To protect the nation from the destructive impact of drugs, strict enforcement of the law must be ensured. People from all political and social backgrounds must participate in anti-drug social movements. Students and young people must be freed from the influence of vested political interests and manipulative patronage networks.

At the same time, greater opportunities should be created to engage youth in constructive, recreational, and developmental activities. Schools, colleges and universities should expand sports and cultural programs so that young people can easily participate in healthy pursuits and avoid despair and frustration. Such initiatives can significantly reduce vulnerability to drug abuse and broader social decay.

According to a World Bank survey, nearly 45 percent of drug addicts are involved in one form of social crime or another. Drug addiction is among the most serious public health challenges of our time. The increasing rate of addiction among Bangladesh’s youth is deeply alarming. If immediate measures are not taken, there may soon be few families left untouched by this crisis.

Drugs are among the most effective weapons for destroying a nation from within. Therefore, there is no alternative to public awareness and social resistance in preventing drug addiction. Families, communities, educational institutions and religious organizations must all play an effective and coordinated role in this effort.

Emran Emon is an eminent journalist, columnist and global affairs analyst. He can be reached at emoncolumnist@gmail.com