Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, recently addressed the drug problems in Kerala. In a discussion with radio jockey Joseph Annamkutty Jose, clinical psychologist Aditya Ravidran, and homeopathic physician Fatima Asla, the easy availability of narcotics was identified as a significant factor. Rahul Gandhi questioned whether unemployment also played a role. He compared social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to addiction, linking drug abuse to crime.
The discussion members noted knife murders as one of the most common crimes related to drug use. A recent case in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, highlighted this when a 23-year-old man walked into a police station and claimed he had murdered six people, including his mother, brother, and girlfriend. Police stated he was addicted, and accumulating debts from drug purchases pushed him toward crime.
Source: aajtak
Kerala Tops in Drug Cases
On March 12, the Lok Sabha released three years of data on drug trafficking cases, showing Kerala at the top with more than 85,000 recorded cases. Maharashtra follows with over 35,000, with Punjab also known for drug-related cases. But is this rise in drug-related cases in Kerala a recent trend? The statistics reveal that drug trafficking wasn't always a major issue in the state. Only 6,000 cases were recorded in 2016, rising to 9,244 in 2017. The numbers stayed around 9,000 for the next two years, falling to about 5,000 in 2020. However, in the past three years, the problem has escalated, with cases soaring to 26,918 in 2022, marking a staggering 373% increase. The figure rose to 30,715 in 2023 before slightly declining to 27,701 in 2024.
Source: aajtak
Which Drugs are Popular in Kerala?
The Lok Sabha also released data on the seizure of synthetic drugs in Kerala, including ATS and MDMA. Only 5.42 kilograms of drugs were seized in 2021, which increased to 9.6 kilograms in 2022. However, in 2023, seizures skyrocketed to 2,543.22 kilograms, with ATS accounting for the largest share. The amount decreased significantly to 25.85 kilograms in 2024. What about India as a whole? According to Lok Sabha data, drug law enforcement agencies in India seized the largest amount of marijuana, totaling 1.88 million kilograms. LSD was the second most seized drug nationwide, with 45,814 blotters, followed by 41,450 liters of CBCS. Opium was the fourth most seized, with 20,970 kilograms.
Source: aajtak
Speaking to India Today, former IPS officer KG Simon remarked that drug abuse in Kerala has reached alarming levels. He said that when he was the Commissioner in Thrissur, a report warned him of the rising use of narcotics in Kerala, with cannabis being the most used substance at that time. He added, 'Students are increasingly forming ties with thugs involved in drug trafficking. This glorification of their bravado encourages the trend. These criminals exploit children as drug couriers.' However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the chief secretary in a meeting with law enforcement officials to draft a blueprint for a massive anti-drugs campaign in the state.
Source: aajtak
Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, expressed deep concern over the growing drug epidemic in Kerala. Tharoor stated on March 3, 'This is an issue I have raised in Parliament, and I have not received satisfactory responses from the authorities. We need to wage a war on drugs in Kerala.' According to the 2019 report by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on the substance abuse pattern in India, an estimated 750,000 adults (aged 18-75) in Kerala are drug users. Cannabis is the most commonly used drug, with approximately 352,000 adults consuming it, followed by opioids, with an estimated 212,000 users in the state. These substances are prevalent among children aged 10-17, with an estimated 75,000 children in Kerala using drugs.
