Asif Al Mahmood
Drug abuse directly affects the social and economic aspects of a nation. Foryoung people in Bangladesh, aged 18 to 30 and hailing from various social classes, this issue is increasingly problematic. To safeguard our society and its members from this lethal game, we must quickly regulate the trafficking of illicit drugs.Bangladesh is situated at the intersection of the "golden triangle" (comprising Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos) and the "golden crescent" (including Pakistan,Afghanistan, and Iran).Furthermore, it is surrounded by the main Asian drug producers, many ofwhom are reinforcing their drug legislation and increasing enforcement efforts. With
its easy access to land, sea, and air routes, Bangladesh is emerging as a vital transit nation. Drug traffickers utilize routes in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, and Khulna, to transport their products to markets in North America, Africa,and Europe. People think that as goods become more abundant, an increasing number of individuals may become engaged in the drug trade. Drugs are categorized into two groups: 1) Soft drugs, including glue, hash, alcohol, tobacco products, and cannabis; 2) illicit substances with severe effects, such as cocaine, ecstasy, speed,
and amphetamine.In Bangladesh, stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatments. They are being adopted by middle-aged individuals, young girls, university students, and even high school pupils. These adolescents were unaware of drugs. Some cannot tell the difference between marijuana and amphetamine. Even
more concerning, they lack knowledge about which substances are dangerous. The impact of drugs unfolds in three stages that affect both social and personal life: 1.The initial stage; 2. The early stage; 3. The developed stage; 4. The dangerous phase; 5. The social and economic phase.

They utterly lose control, ignore social norms, behave aggressively in public, keep a bad temper, think they are infallible, reject counsel, portray themselves as very knowledgeable and perceptive individuals,experience frustration at times, and may even lose their will to live. Youth drug use can lead to unproductivity, damaging the labor market through shortages of workers.

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 Fatalities, while incurring billions in healthcare and rehabilitation costs. The average cost of drugs is between $1.9 and $3.1 daily, translating to an annual cost of $7072 to $1135 per person. The economic impact of drug misuse encompassed the cost of the drug itself, medical expenses, lost productivity, and other societal effects
such as crimes and accidents. The economic impact of drug abuse can cause reduced productivity and lower output, leading to health issues and premature deaths. The youth is the lifeblood of a nation. It is frequently called a nation support system.
The terrible drug addiction that exists today is compromising this backbone. Drugs can directly affect a nation’s economy, societal structure, and physical well- being. It is increasingly turning into a national issue in Bangladesh. A considerable number of youths are afflicted with serious drug dependence. In the past few years,
drug dependency has escalated dramatically, especially among the youth. In the past, it was linked to the lower social classes. Nonetheless, it is emerging as a significant problem across all strata of society, especially for the youth—the most precious resource of our community. Also, youngsters consider it to be “clever” to take part in them. Enhanced dependency on narcotics damages a country’s economic development potential and raises the risk of criminal activity, unexpected aggression, and moral decay. Consequently, it leads to considerable disruption across our society, economy, culture, and all facets of daily life that rely on proper functioning. Once drugs are consumed, the body becomes unwound and the mind
feels refreshed. When a drug user cannot cope with it. He shows a perishing disposition and is reluctant to work or even engage in communication. The afflicted individual endures a fever, headache, and body itchiness; vomiting occurs
occasionally as well. Most of the students in this group feel unhappy and
disillusioned regarding their academic careers. Because of the rapid expansion of trade and business across national borders, the problems of drug addiction and trafficking have become international issues. In 1909, an international conference on narcotic drugs involving thirteen nations was held in China as a drug control measure. The worldwide opinion convention held in 1912 resulted in the Hague Convention on Narcotics, the first international treaty aimed at restricting drug traffic.

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Afterward, a number of accords and declarations were issued to halt the trade of illegal drugs. One of the most important agreements dealing with drug misuse was the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (SCND), which aimed to simplify and unify the worldwide drug control system. The convention of 1961 served to formalize all existing multilateral agreements and merged the Permanent Central Control Board with the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). Solutions to the drug addiction problem must be found through collaboration among the government, parents, and society. In the fight against this problem, no one can succeed on his own. Taking part can assist in alleviating this issue.The government can take on various roles, such as incorporating drug education into textbooks or national curricula, imposing strict regulations on the drugindustry, collaborating with international organizations and seeking their support, and establishing drug abuse prevention initiatives in educational institutions like schools
and colleges; the state should execute a rehabilitation program; set up a drug control unit within the health ministry; implement a national policy and laws concerning drugs; position community police in areas with a high risk to oversee businesses and activities connected to drugs; and establish a special unit to halt drug-related actions
and uphold legislation.The family is responsible for positively responding to the demands of youth,
regularly monitoring parents and elders, educating young people about the harmful effects of drug addiction, taking suitable action following drug involvement through various medical interventions, embracing religious teachings and practices, and engaging in regular family prayer. Society’s role includes informing individuals about
the harmful consequences of drug addiction, fostering self-awareness in young people regarding substance abuse, aiding recovering addicts by being examples for others, leveraging social media to arrange events and initiatives aimed at combating drug abuse, and conducting various campaigns. To shield our society and citizens
from this lethal game, we must promptly impose regulations on the trafficking of illicit substances. Drug dependence is not a personal problem for those who are addicted; instead, it is a communal issue that

The writer is a  Freelance writer, columnist