Information Sheet for Module 2.3 Drugs and Substance Abuse

Information Sheet for Module 2.3 Drugs and Substance Abuse

Drug Situation in Bangladesh:

Drug addiction has significantly increased in the whole world, especially in the South Asian countries like Bangladesh. According to sources at different healthcare facilities, nowadays nearly 10 percent of outpatients are visiting the country's hospitals with cases of addiction-related complications. The trend of drug consumption is higher in youth and teenagers, between 15 and 30 years. This is also confirmed by WHO. They come from all strata of the society. The teens are ignorant about variation of drugs. Some of them cannot tell the difference between stimulants and marijuana. Also most of them are not aware about the deadly consequences about using drugs. Since there is a strong social stigma attached to drug abuse, no study can verify the exact number of the drug abusers in the country. However, it is estimated that the number of addicts in Bangladesh is more than six million who spend over Tk 70 million every day on illegal narcotics, say studies and intelligence reports.[1]

Meanwhile, a separate study conducted by the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition (JHPN) of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) shows that in the capital, 79.4 percent of the users are male and 20.6 percent are female. The JHPN study finds that 64.8 percent of the drug users in the country are unmarried, 56.1 percent are either students or unemployed, and 95.4 percent are smokers. About 85.7 percent get into consuming drugs under the influence of friends. More than 1 lakh people are directly involved in illegal drug trade and supply. The study reveals that peddlers prefer women and children for carrying and selling drugs because it is easier for them to evade law enforcers.

According to intelligence sources at the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), heroin is the deadliest of drugs in Bangladesh. In recent times, Yaba has gained popularity and cough syrup Phensedyl remains the most popular among the masses because of its low price and easy availability. Sources at the DNC intelligence wing also said that around 10,000 cases are filed and 9,000 people are arrested every year in connection with drug-related violence and crimes.

Commonly used drugs and their effects:

Commonly used drugs in Bangladesh are Opium (Heroin, Pathedine, Cocaine) and commonly used drugs in Bangladesh are Cannabis (Ganja, Chorosh, Bhang, Hashish). Other types of drugs are Yaba, Ecstasy, different kinds of sleeping pills, cough syrups like Phensidyl. Glue etc. There is also addiction towards Alcohol.