Shimla: To assert its commitment to curb drug menace, Himachal Pradesh has framed a comprehensive and an integrated drug prevention policy, keeping local challenges into consideration that says that diversion of licit pharmaceuticals containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is becoming a significant problem in the state, specially when supplies of Opioids/ Heroin/ Chitta are curtailed. Under such circumstances, drug dependents resort to easy procurement of psychotropic preparations containing psychoactive drugs such as Tramadol, Codeine-based cough syrups (CBCS), Buprenorphine, Diazepam, and Alprazolam etc. The policy says that emergence of darknet markets operating in other parts are anticipated to penetrate their operations in Himachal Pradesh and vice-versa and the situation is anticipated to pose a tough challenge to the state.
According to the Himachal Pradesh Integrated Drug Prevention Policy, to tackle this problem, the state should endeavour to take stringent preventive measures to curb the illicit trade and abuse of psychotropic substances by seeking amendments in the existing legal framework.
It also suggests to bring the drugs having dual presence under Drug and Cosmetics Act as well as NDPS Act (either as Narcotic Drug or as Psychotropic Substances) under the list of controlled drugs and fix their quota of allocation by the Central Bureau of Narcotics for better regulation. Suggestion has also been made to introduce a suitable mechanism to procure international demand in respect of prescription drugs and psychotropic substances from foreign countries well before undertaking manufacturing operations for such drugs for exports, besides to cap the procurement of raw material, fix quantity of stocks by marketing company, wholesaler, dealer, and retailer.
The new policy promises to focus on creating a mechanism to research and analyze situations and empower various line agencies by bringing targeted improvements in justice delivery systems. It will also focus on setting up an effective State and district Level Drug Demand Reduction Mechanism for dissemination of awareness among the masses about the ill effects of drug abuse. Till now, the efforts made to eradicate drug crops have proved inadequate. Sparse enforcement directions and prosecution threats, for both offenders and public officers, have proven counterproductive. In these circumstances, the state shall adhere to a policy of zero tolerance towards illicit cultivation of cannabis, the new policy says.
According to the Himachal Pradesh Integrated Drug Prevention Policy, to tackle this problem, the state should endeavour to take stringent preventive measures to curb the illicit trade and abuse of psychotropic substances by seeking amendments in the existing legal framework.
It also suggests to bring the drugs having dual presence under Drug and Cosmetics Act as well as NDPS Act (either as Narcotic Drug or as Psychotropic Substances) under the list of controlled drugs and fix their quota of allocation by the Central Bureau of Narcotics for better regulation. Suggestion has also been made to introduce a suitable mechanism to procure international demand in respect of prescription drugs and psychotropic substances from foreign countries well before undertaking manufacturing operations for such drugs for exports, besides to cap the procurement of raw material, fix quantity of stocks by marketing company, wholesaler, dealer, and retailer.
The new policy promises to focus on creating a mechanism to research and analyze situations and empower various line agencies by bringing targeted improvements in justice delivery systems. It will also focus on setting up an effective State and district Level Drug Demand Reduction Mechanism for dissemination of awareness among the masses about the ill effects of drug abuse. Till now, the efforts made to eradicate drug crops have proved inadequate. Sparse enforcement directions and prosecution threats, for both offenders and public officers, have proven counterproductive. In these circumstances, the state shall adhere to a policy of zero tolerance towards illicit cultivation of cannabis, the new policy says.
