Juvenile Substance Abuse Series: Exploring the Nexus between Crime and Drugs

This article is a part of the Juvenile Substance Abuse Series under SDG -3 of the United Nations that focuses on good health. In particular, the scope of this series is focused on target 3.5. Target 3.5 is “Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.” The article discusses the nexus between crime and substance abuse and then it further explores the relation through case studies. The article also discusses important case studies of juveniles rehabilitated after their substance addiction in a care home in New Delhi, India, that I had a chance to interact with as part of a former research project.

Availability of Drugs

Situated between the two well-known illicit opium-producing areas in Asia, the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle, India's geographical position ensures easy drug trafficking. Afghanistan, a part of the Golden Crescent, accounts for over 90% of the world's illicit opium. The country is also the biggest producer of Hashish in the world. Porous borders on the northeast and Kashmir side ensure that the drugs easily reach the land. Poorly guarded Thar Desert provides an ideal route for drug trafficking. Low-grade Heroin production in India due to an increasing demand further added to the existing drug problem in the country. The rise of Sikh militancy in Punjab resulted in a spurt in drug trafficking cases in the state. The Wagah-Attari border was repeatedly used to carry drugs across the border. The Samjhauta-Express between Amritsar and Lahore has also frequently been used for drug trafficking from Pakistan to India. This journey has made Amritsar a major heroin centre in Punjab.

As India lies at the focal point of this illicit exchange triangle, the accessibility of the substances is simple. Drug transportation is occurring on a huge scale in the waterfront regions of India, which must be controlled by executing laws inflexibly. India is additionally creating immense measures of drug substance which is effortlessly accessible in the market at a moderate cost.

Link with Other Offences

Crimes and drugs might be connected in a few different ways, but none of them are novices. To begin with, unlawful drug creation, production, dissemination, or ownership may constitute wrongdoing. Secondly, drugs may improve the probability of other non-drug violations occurring. Thirdly, drugs might be utilised for profit making, resulting in illegal tax avoidance. Fourthly, drugs might be firmly connected to other fundamental issues, for example, the illicit utilisation of weapons, different types of brutality, and psychological oppression.

A continuum exists in connection to acknowledged societal position and crimes. On one side, it is reputable conduct, and on the other, criminal action. Between these two extremes are discovered menace and wrongdoing. Numerous peripheral people who utilise drugs don't proceed to end up delinquents or crooks. If movement along this continuum does not happen inside a nation, the idea of movement is even less pertinent crosswise over societies. Criminal conduct and substance abuse are unmistakably interrelated. More noteworthy, the inclusion of substances is more serious the savagery and guilt.

Essentially there are distinctive viewpoints that can be examined. Abuse-related crimes: Violations coming about because of the ingestion of drugs affect perspectives and conduct. E.g., Assault, kill, thievery, and so forth. Finance-related crimes are violations where an individual commits wrongdoing to finance drug propensity. E.g., Robbery, prostitution, blackmail, grabbing, and so on. Framework-related crimes: Violations come about because of the structure of the drug framework, which incorporates the creation, production, transportation, and offer of drugs, for example, turf war.

Case Studies

Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (“SPYM”), Delhi, India

During one of my summer internships, I had the opportunity to visit and attend sessions at one of the centres of SPYM in Delhi, India. I also had the chance to interact with people who were once addicted to drugs in their lives and later safely rehabilitated, and restored to society. They are leading a sober, everyday life now. On the other hand, I also interacted with some adolescents just admitted to the centre and saw their difficulties in de-addiction. I present the report on two such people as case studies to understand the menace.

Raju - A Rehabilitated Drug Addict

Raju (name changed for confidentiality) is a 25 years old man currently working at SPYM. He has been leading a sober and clean life with his family for a couple of years now. Raju disclosed all about his encounter with drugs, his occasional usage converting to dependency, and how it opened a portal of crime for him. He had committed multiple murders, robberies, and theft during his adolescence under various drugs like smack, marijuana, and alcohol. He was so addicted to drugs that he started spending approximately INR 4,000 -5,000 on drugs daily. He had travelled across various States of India, such as Assam, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kashmir, to get the best drugs and to arrange money to buy drugs; he started committing crimes for which he worked both with gangs and by himself. After his rehabilitation, he realised how miserable his life had become due to drug abuse, and he would have died had he not been rehabilitated soon. He now works at SPYM and preaches against substance abuse.

Sudhir - A Recently Admitted Drug Addict in the Centre

Sudhir (name changed for confidentiality) is a 17 years old young boy recently admitted to the SPYM Centre; he had only spent two weeks at the centre. He was primarily addicted to a drug called smack and had committed an offence of theft. To arrange for money that could help his drug addiction, he started committing crimes and spent around INR 2,000 - 3,000 on drugs every day. He usually worked in a gang to commit crimes. He was still going through the whole de-addiction process and was not remorseful about his actions.

These experiences tell a tale about the rising drug abuse in our country and the need to address it immediately before more harm is done to society.

By Prerna Deep