The use and effects of illegal drugs has become a global headache as it would appear that there is no effective solution to this grave problem which is seriously affecting most countries of the world. But the use and effects of using illegal drugs is only one aspect of the problem as a series of other connected problems arise including health, family, education, crime, production and productivity reduction at work places and increased costs of public health care.
What is even more worrisome is the fact that vast majority of those that are hooked on drugs are youths. This is not surprising because the drug peddlers actually target youths, which from their standpoint makes good business sense.
An article in The Strait Times by Shu-Ching Jean Chen of Hong Kong, China notes: “The narrow strip of border checkpoints between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is among the world’s busiest border crossings. On a typical holiday, it handles more than a quarter of a million passengers.
Now, it has become an epicentre for illegal drugs, one that is particularly worrying because of the growing number of young people from Hong Kong who cross it in search of a good time.

‘It is like the border between Mexico and America,’ says Mr. Heron Tang Kwok Hei, the 34-year-old head of Cheer Lutheran Hong Kong, a drug-prevention social group.
The number of drug abusers arrested in Hong Kong hit more than 14,000 last year, with the majority of cases in the border region between mainland China and the island – known as the New Territories – in areas such as Yuen Long and North District, according to the narcotics division.
The ranks of drug abusers under the age of 21 in Hong Kong have exploded. The division found that the number of youth drug abusers arrested increased by 51 per cent during the past three years to more than 3,400 last year.
A survey conducted in July by non-governmental organisation Youth Outreach showed an even more worrying trend. Of 398 children aged six to 15 polled, 30 percent admitted taking drugs. Some 65 percent also reported having friends with drug problems.
Peer pressure, boredom with school life, emotional distress plus parents who neglect them because they work long hours are the most common reasons cited by the government and analysts for the spread of youth drug abuse.”
While this is an article on Hong Kong it could have been one on many other countries as the situation is similar in many parts of the world.
In Guyana, we have a growing problem of the use of illegal drugs among youths and this is leading to other social problems. In almost every village/community there are groups of youths who are either hooked on illegal drugs or peddle it or both.
This is destroying the socio-economic fabric of our society. Therefore, it is time that we deal with this grave problem with a greater sense of urgency and commitment. And this is a fight that cannot be left exclusively to the government. Instead it has to be one where everyone is involved, if not, the future of our country could severely be compromised.