CHILDREN'S INVOLVEMENT IN DRUGS INCREASES ALARMINGLY

Int'l Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking
Today

As a wholesaler of writing slate in old Dhaka, once he had sufficient
income from his business, but now he has nothing.

The business of Alamgir Hossain started ruining keeping pace with his
growing level of addiction to heroin.

For the last few years his wife and school-going son and daughter have
been living as dependant of his elder brother.

Alamgir, now 36 years old, started taking heroin at the age of
18.

He has just recovered from addiction with 24 others after free
treatment at Modhumita Treatment Centre of Dhaka Ahsania Mission (Dam).

"Now I can realise how big loss I had incurred in last 18 years. I
request all to keep themselves thousand miles away from drugs," said
Alamgir while talking to The Daily Star at a seminar organised to
observe the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking today.

The Dam in collaboration with Family Health International (FHI)
organised the seminar at its auditorium in the city yesterday.

In a keynote paper former additional inspector general of police
Shahidullah Khan said the drug abuse has become a global problem and
human tragedy.

"Growing drug abuse has invaded home, workplace and educational
institutions affecting individuals of all ages and classes," he added.

Shahidullah said although there is no exact figure, the total number
of drug addicts in the country has been estimated at 2.5 million.

Of them the most affected age group is 15-29, he added.

Shahidullah said Bangladesh has become a transit as well as user
country for its geographical location.

Chaired by former inspector general of police Dr M Enamul Hoque, the
seminar was addressed by Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, Deputy Director of
FHI Tara Nichole O'Day, Deputy Director of Department of Narcotics
Control (DNC) Abu Taleb, Programme Director of Aparajeyo Bangladesh
Wahida Banu and Dam President and Chief Executive Kazi Rafiqul Alam.

The speakers said involvement of children in drug abuse is increasing
alarmingly.

According to yearly report that the DNC submitted to the UN in 2002,
among the all drug users in the country six percent were children.

In 2003 this percentage increased to 13 and it remained the same in
2004. But in 2005, the percentage was again increased to 17.87.

According to the reports, street children living at slums, bus and
truck stands, railway stations and lunch terminals are most vulnerable
to drug abuse.

A good number of children in the age group of eight to 12 are widely
used to sell drugs.

The speakers said parents, teachers, community leaders can play a
vital role to protect the children from drug abuse.

They called for inclusion of articles on ill effects of drugs in
school textbooks.