Caught in the middle: On India and curbing drug abuse

The article discusses India's vulnerability to drug trafficking due to its location between major drug-producing regions (Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle), with Myanmar emerging as a leading source. It highlights challenges in enforcement, such as the use of drones, darknet, and cryptocurrencies by traffickers, and issues with domestic production using diverted pharmaceutical ingredients. The piece critically examines India's response, noting the prevalence of physical abuse in private de-addiction centers, the urban-rural disparity in access to rehabilitation, social stigma, and gender-specific barriers to treatment. It emphasizes the need for a shift from focusing solely on seizures and arrests to a 'whole of society' approach that prioritizes rehabilitation and restoring lives, as exemplified by initiatives like Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.