More disturbing drugs news
Editorial
MORE signs of the extent to which the insidious drugs trade is creeping through society came this week with the disturbing news that heroin is now finding its way on to the streets of Guyana. The news coincided with the launching of the `bold' United Nations-backed exploratory strategy against the drugs problem, especially among young people. At the signing of the documents for the plan in Georgetown, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative here, Mr. Richard Olver, noted that Guyana needs a "robust response" to reduce the demand for drugs and this will be impossible unless an inter-agency strategy is adopted. What he said at the ceremony bears repeating. Mr. Olver pointed out that in recent years, Guyana has become an important trans-shipment point in the drugs route to North America. "...of late it has been noticed that payment for services rendered for trans-shipment is being made not only in cash but also in kind, and drugs, including heroin, are now finding their way on the streets of Guyana". He said the illegal activity is the sole means of livelihood for some families in some depressed local communities. "Drug trafficking is becoming a major source of income in some depressed communities and entire families are known to be involved. Women and children are particularly affected," he said. And according to him, from May last year, 60 per cent of women imprisoned were jailed for drug-related offences. We noted earlier this week that young people were those most at risk in the net of the drugs barons - now it is out that women are among the chief targets. Women and young people being snared in a growing web that threatens society. Guyana remains wide open to those determined to get rich by creating misery among others and all those concerned have to acknowledge that the gains of some getting money by backing drugs barons are far outweighed by the agony, anguish and sorrow created by the payment in drugs, now including heroin, which find their way into the minds and bodies of mostly poor young people. Young lives are being destroyed while some get rich and still many in this country refuse to take heed of the monster that dwells among them. As a result of the machinations of the drugs barons, the country has to divert scarce resources to try to treat and rehabilitate those who have fallen prey to the droppings they scatter to smooth their way to the bigger markets up north. As long as the drugs barons can operate freely in a country like Guyana, particularly the young in no family can be considered safe and this cannot be tolerated. The new plan deserves full backing, especially the preventive education schemes targeting street children, others enrolled in learning institutions, school dropouts and persons living in squatting areas and depressed communities. The public has to be fully involved if the battle against the drugs barons is to be won and the more people know of where the real danger lies, the better chances of success there will be. 
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