KERALA’S DRUG MENACE: A WIDESPREAD AND ESCALATING CRISIS

Why in the News?

  • Rapid surge: Drug abuse cases in Kerala have seen an alarming increase, with over 30,000 cases in 2023, surpassing all other states.
  • Judicial concern: The Kerala High Court warned against the drug mafia’s influence, and the government launched initiatives like ‘Love-a-Thon’ to curb student drug use.
  • Legislative action: The State Assembly suspended routine business to discuss the crisis, highlighting its severity.

KERALA'S DRUG MENACE: A WIDESPREAD AND ESCALATING CRISIS

Scale and Spread of the Problem

  • Highest in India: Kerala recorded 78 cases per lakh people in 2024, far exceeding Punjab’s 30 cases per lakh.
  • Uniform spread: Unlike other states where cases are concentrated in urban centers, every district in Kerala recorded at least 500 cases in 2022.
  • State comparison: Maharashtra, despite ranking second, recorded only half of Kerala’s drug cases in 2023.

Challenges in Law Enforcement

  • Possession vs. trafficking: 94% of cases in Kerala are for possession, while only 6% relate to trafficking, unlike Punjab, where trafficking cases dominate.
  • District-wise analysis: 17 out of the top 25 districts for drug possession cases in 2022 were from Kerala, while none appeared in the trafficking category.
  • Policing difficulty: The scattered nature of cases makes enforcement challenging, unlike Maharashtra and Karnataka, where a few districts dominate drug cases.

What steps could be taken:

  • Strengthen anti-drug initiatives: Expand awareness programs and strengthen law enforcement to tackle both consumption and trafficking.
  • Better coordination: Align policing efforts with administrative districts for efficient intervention.
  • National-level strategy: Address Kerala’s unique drug crisis through a dedicated task force and community-based de-addiction programs.