Narcotics --The current perspectives and deleterious effects

The word narcotics rings an alarm bell, it's name coined by the Greek physician Galen many centuries ago means to numb.

Narcotics have been consumed since 1600s. It was declared as an illegal drug in early 1900s. Narcotics are of different types obtained from vegetable or plant origin , chemically synthesised or mixed.

Narcotic drugs are legally prohibited and regarded as illicit drugs. However they are used in pain alleviation in cancer medicinally.

The narcotic drugs can lead to addiction. Drug dependency and drug overdose. It is estimated that 5.6 % of the world's population has taken narcotics amounting to 275 million people worldwide.

The drugs include cocaine , opioids, amphetamines, marijuana, morphine ,codeine, poppy plant extracts, cannabis, LSD , and ecstasy. Besides there are synthetic products.

The pathological effects are neurostimulation, tachycardia, hypertension, myocardial ischemia ,myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure, lung abscess, infections, granulomas ,viral infections HIV and kidney involvement. with glomerulonephrtis, amyloid and nephrotic syndrome.

The narcotic drugs can cause sudden death due to hypersensitivity, drug overdose as well as chronic damage to several organs.

The narcotics can be consumed by smoking , injections, sniffing as well as consumed in eatables.

So they can damage the skin, respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract.

The narcotic trade is a very lucrative business worldwide linked to smuggling , arms deals and black market. The demand and supply and the dependence and craving for narcotics leads to this outcome. So narcotic trade and narcotic market is very huge,  huge budgets and is a lucrative black market business.

They affect the mind in a harmful manner, relaxes the person and induces sleep and alleviates pain.

Narcotic use is known in.history from 1600s consumed by different groups, rich. poor, noble, royal families, students, youth, people of different religions, caste, ethnicity colour, etc.

They are illegally consumed.in different countries including India and Goa.

In Goa there was the hippie era during the 1960s and 1970s during the Vietnam war. This drug addiction has ruined many youth in the coastal belt of Goa and destroyed their families.

Later on the drug network moved to other parts of Goa , cities and villages and schools and colleges and parties of the rich and famous, actors , models and others.

This is a very sad and unfortunate scenario of Goa's development and.progress and tourism.

Goa also has a few deaddiction centres units and counsellors.

The author has encountered many histopathological changes in the organs examined during autopsies during the last 40 years.

The narcotics have been grown in different states of India but is illegal and is brought into India and Goa despite surveillance at the ports, airports, roads and railways.

A few days back a world record was created by an international operation called Operation Orion by the Columbian law enforcing authorities. This operation was conducted by Columbia in association with 62 countries spread over weeks using pooled planes, helicopters, frigates of these 62 countries.

This operation intercepted narco submarines which measure 10 to 25 metres which move in the sub low level in water. These specialised submarines were travelling from Columbia to Australia, US and Europe.

The law enforcing authorities intercepted them and seized 225 tonnes of cocaine and 1,000 tonnes of marijuana.  45 persons were arrested and it was a 45-day crackdown indeed a world record of narcotic seizures. This route bypassed the surveillance of the.ports and airports.

It may be noted that the consignment was meant for Australia from Columbia and the cost of these drugs in Australian is 6 times more than in USA.

Closer home a few days back Indian law enforcing authorities seized a trawler with narcotics in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

With the increased use of AI these seizures will be easier and more in number.

The punishment for narcotic use varies from country to country. In some countries it is legal. In others the punishment if found guilty, varies from 3 months, 6 months, 3 years and life imprisonment to death sentence.

It is also to be added that morphine and it's derivatives are used medicinally for intractable pain in cancer patients.

Dealing with narcotic drugs is a herculean effort involving the government, police, customs, coast guard, society, families. counsellors, psychologists , teachers and administrators.

Health education school and college education on the deleterious effects of narcotics must be overemphasised.  Hope that the new generation takes a positive and optimistic view and acts.

( The writer is Professor of Pathology and former Dean Goa University)