Substance abuse has become a major problem in many parts of the world. Nepal is no exception and the country has its own share of this social evil. Alcoholism, dependence on drugs and banned substances are rife in our society, ruining the life of many Nepali youths. Because of this lingering trouble, people's health suffer and they lose life prematurely, besides failing to complete education, taste success in career and lead life as normal citizens if they continue with the abuse of alcohol, drugs and other harmful substances. The addiction among the youths and adults can only be broken when the government authorities, families and societies work in unison to address this social problem.

Lately, drugs abuse has gripped many of Nepali teens, youths and adults compelling our authority to raise awareness campaigns against such an abuse. A recent report found that the minimum age of consuming drugs is 10 to 13 years of age. This revelation must have perplexed the concerned people because it shows the presence and availability of nocuous drugs in our society. The same report has disclosed that the youths start drug intake owing to peer pressures, family and study related troubles as well as out of curiosity. Easy access and smooth supply of drugs through racketeers and smugglers have added to the drug abuse problems.

The drug abuse, addiction, smuggling and easy accessibility of the prohibited items calls for vigorous measures to nip the growing menace in the bud. It is, however, heartening to note that our authority, chiefly the police administration, is conducting an anti-drug abuse awareness programme. Under this scheme, the police administration has focused its major attention to schools and colleges, the places where a sizeable section of the teens and youth students are feared to gain traction towards substance abuse and drug addiction. This section of our population is the one that requires greater comprehension regarding the impact on drugs and drugs abuse in their life, future career, families and societies. Once they start grasping the ill impacts of the drug abuse scourge, they are less likely to fall prey to this abuse, which would be an advantage to our authorities.

In the meantime, our authority must ramp up its surveillance against the smugglings and bust the possession of drugs and banned items such as cannabis, hashish, opium, cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, and ephedrine. Our authority has lately seized thousands of bottles of tablets, ampules, bottles of several pharmaceutical drugs that are abused as sedatives by abusers. The campaign against the drug abuse should go on unhindered at this crucial juncture when the country is in the grip of the dreadful pandemic. At this trying hour, virtual awareness schemes are expected from our authority that has however to conduct other life-saving campaigns. Besides, there must be a strong surveillance against the supply of the banned drugs that are said to be in sizeable demand in the country. Only by putting a full-stop in the smuggling and possession of these prohibited substances can our authority succeed in wiping out the drugs abuse and addiction from our society. For achieving this objective, they must carry out anti-drug abuse and smuggling drives in a coordinated manner.