A message by the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for the International Day Against
Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 26 June 2011 that unless we reduce
demand for illicit drugs, we can never fully tackle cultivation,
production or trafficking. Governments have a responsibility to
counteract both drug trafficking and drug abuse, but communities can
also make a major contribution. Families, schools, civil society and
religious organizations can do their part to rid their communities of
drugs. Businesses can help provide legitimate livelihoods. The media
can raise awareness about the dangers of narcotics. Enumerate all the
factors to be considered and things to be put in place if any country
has to stop drug abuse and trafficking.
One
thing about the economy is that a deprive of a specific activity or
line of business act negatively to its progress though it may stop some
social evil and benefit in future from the stoppage. The Kenyan economy
to some extent benefit from drug abuse as cigar and alcohol though
their social impact is intensive and is costing the economy labor and
entrepreneurship as factor of production.
In
addition Kenya falls a victim of drug trafficking with current American
President Barrack Obama naming global possible traffickers in Kenya who
are renown businesspersons in the country sporting the economy.
The
government have put in place sufficient policies and procedures if this
country will one day save the country from drug abuse and trafficking.
The president should take a proactive step to contain situation, it may
start with a commission to look into the situation and propose the way
forward that should be implemented to a solution that will last.
The current policies as Alcohol Control Act 2010, the
infamous Mututho law on alcohol consumption and sale need to be backed
by some other policies governing police and government administration
agents if it will contain the current situation. As it have counted
failures witnessed by the recent deaths and visual impairment based on
consumption of illicit liquor in Kiambu.
It’s
unacceptable if a country would lose its labor and entrepreneurship
that are basic factors of production thus economic pillars to a social
issue and evil that can be contained economically.
World population is approximately 6,775,235,700 as per World Bank, World
Development Indicators where 200 million people are using illicit drugs
such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative
hypnotics worldwide its therefore needful to put up measures at country
level to contain drugs trafficking to save the world population.
The
United Nations’ (UN) International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking raise awareness about the dangers of illicit drugs. The day
may have no effect if its not taken up by countries to raise awareness
to its population. Media have a part to play to raise awareness to the
public through special issues and packages on this day.
Samuel Wambugu, Nyahururu
Public Relations
