New Delhi: Drug addiction kills more people globally than terror attacks, a senior official said here today.
"Everyday 570 people die of drug abuse globally which accounts for about more than two hundred thousand people a year that is more than the number of people being killed in terrorist attacks in a year - which is 30,000 deaths per year," Customs Commissioner Rajesh N Srivastava said.
Srivastava was speaking at the release of 2016 report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). INCB is an independent and quasi-judicial global expert body on the subject of narcotics and drugs.
The report states that one-third of global drug users are females and only one-fifth of them receive any kind of treatment.
Talking about the menace of drug abuse in the country, TDP Member of Parliament (MP) P Ravindra Babu held the capitalist society responsible for its increase.
"Drug abuse reduces when there is high emotional support from families. India used to have joint families...and the chances of drug abuse is not very high when we have joint families as pain of one is shared by all. But now, with the arrival of the capitalist society, people do not have anyone to share their problems with, hence the drug abuse is increasing," he added.
As part of its recommendations, the report focuses on gender-sensitive drug policies, proportionate response to drug-related offences and to ensure drug availability for medical and scientific purposes.
It also emphasises that there should be a proper collection and sharing of drug related data and international cooperation to handle the issue effectively.
