Sunday Times 2
“Time To Act”: SLANA hosts public forum on drug abuse
The Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association (SLANA) held a public forum “Time To Act” to educate the public and enlighten them about the treacherous cycle of drug abuse,
The forum which took place last month brought together representatives of diverse associations, both independent and state bodies to talk on different aspects of the drug problem Sri Lanka is currently facing. Director of SLANA Dharshanie Guniyangoda made it very clear that they broadly interpret ‘drugs’ to include “any addictive substance” that can alter one’s state of mind or mood.
Pointing out that drugs are marketed in a very clever and enticing manner, she said that the best way to combat it is to equally cleverly “de-market” the product. In making this ‘fighting fire with fire’ approach effective, she says it is important to be aware of new kinds of drugs entering the Sri Lankan market. Drugs too come in and out of fashion. “No one really consumes opium in Sri Lanka, but now new drugs are being introduced to the market such as Khat,” she said. This knowledge and ability to track trending drugs will prove to be a vital part of battling the problem as it is approximated that only 20 percent of the drugs entering the local market get detected.
Deputy Superintendent of the Customs’ Narcotics Control Unit Vipula Fernando too shed some light on this issue. Accepting that Sri Lanka has long been a transit point for the trafficking of drugs, he said, “People think there is no problem if the drugs just pass through our country and don’t enter the local market” but he points out that Pakistan too was a transit point and currently has 625,000 drug dependent children; a menace they never had a problem with in the past.
“You may think that all containers you see in the ports get checked by the customs and everything that enters Sri Lanka is properly screened, but this is not the case,” he disclosed, saying that insufficient resources and personnel seem the biggest problems.
He also recognised the need for better exposure and facilities for the customs officials because as he recalls, “when we first found heroin of a high level of purity we didn’t know what it was and had to get it tested from outside sources.”
Pointing out that some substances that can be used to make drugs are not prohibited by the laws he said “Some substance import laws too need to be changed, because in countries like the US the very same substances are banned, but they can be brought in here.”
Representing the Superintendent of Prisons, a senior official turned the spotlight on the prisoners and what goes on behind the four walls of confinement. “Generally when prison authorities raid the cells we are amazed,” he said, adding that this is mainly because they find drugs that are not manufactured in Sri Lanka like cocaine and heroin in their possession. Sadly, he notes that even small time offenders housed in the remand prisons for lack of space in the three main prisons “tend to come back in because they don’t have a better life outside and again resort to drug use.”
Although innovative ways are sought to smuggle drugs in and out he observed that “sellers outweigh the number of users” and it is done as a means of quick cash, but “over time even sellers become absorbed into a culture of abusing.”
Agreeing that it is a social problem as much as it is an administrative one, clinical psychologist from the National Child Protection Authority Madhu Munasinghe said resorting to drugs is a trend among children who have not received sufficient attention and guidance. This, she believes, could arise from neglect on the part of parents and even teachers. “Very often parents don’t know how to deal with a child who turns to drugs and contacts us as a last resort” she shares, “it is sadly only a few who understand that no amount of punishment can correct such a child.”
Representing the National Dangerous Drugs Council Board, Leisha De Silve Chandrasena said that social acceptance in society still is very limited, making rehabilitation efforts futile. “The attitudes of people towards drug users must change,” she observed. Disclosing that the state is interested in taking steps to rehabilitate she said “if the courts find a convict to be an addict, they can now subject him to mandatory rehabilitation.”
She also said that special care is being taken at such rehabilitation centres such as in Kandakadu to provide convicts of a better approach at life, “At any given time it should be able to rehabilitate about 350 prisoners.” Steps such as supporting the families of prisoners in which he or she was the bread winner and segregating users who inject themselves from the rest during rehabilitation are being taken despite the heavy cost involved.
Senior Economist and Head of the Economic and Social Overheads Division of the Central Bank Sunanda Obeysekara predicted productivity in a number of ways will decrease if drug use increases and this will affect the country’s predicted growth both economically and socially. “The US spends $ 193 billion to deal with their drug problem, and this is more that the GDP of Sri Lanka,” he said outlining the challenges ahead.