Illicit drugs and addiction

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Illicit drugs were not always illegal. For centuries we used them in cultural & religious rituals, and also for healing. Addiction was considered more of a sinful individual behaviour, rather than a national threat. Things changed in the 19th century. Use of illicit drugs became explosive. Advancements in chemistry, commerce, urbanisation and transportation, were all responsible for this explosion. For years, their trade drove economies of many wealthy countries. Empires fought wars, ceded territories, and fuelled their demand – all in national interest. We stopped this madness only a few decades ago, when we made illegal both trade, and consumption of some such substances.

Collectively, we call all illicit drugs as “narcotics”. We derive this name from narcosis in Greek, which means “to make numb”. While opium and its derivatives are narcotics in true sense, others like cocaine and cannabis are not. Word addiction on the other hand has its origin in Latin. It originally means “to enslave, sell-out, betray or abandon”. Today, we use this term for a “compulsive consumption”. Biologically, any action or substance that activates “reward-signals” in our brain tends to become a compulsion. Countries however decide on only some of these substances as illegal, depending on prevalent societal norms. Some medically harmful and addicting substances such as nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine are not illicit. Some countries, and regions have even reversed bans on previously illicit substances, such as marijuana (or cannabis). Many countries including US have intermittently prohibited alcohol in the last century.

Opium and its derivatives

Opium is a dried milky juice of pods of poppy plant- Papaver somniferous. In 19th century chemists derived morphine (1804), codeine(1829), and heroin (1898) from it. Morphine is a potent pain-killer. Codeine and heroin were both developed as cough remedies. While, dependence potential for opium was well known, its derivates were even more addictive. Those addicted, would develop tolerance to a previous dose, and hence need higher doses or novel routes of administration, such as sniffing or injections. While lower doses are addicting, higher doses are lethal. As dose becomes higher, stopping its use causes more discomfort and craving.

Well aware of this dependence, British used opium as a tool for profit and subjugation. Beginning 1820s, East-India company (EIC) started to grow large quantities of Opium in India. Most of this produce was shipped for smuggling into China. EIC and its agents used smuggled-opium-proceeds (mostly as silver), to barter it with tea. Chinese tea earned them even higher profits, as it was sold at a premium across Europe. Opium alone generated about 15-20% of EICs income. British directly took over this trade in 1858. Resistance by Chinese emperor or impounding of to-be-smuggled opium led to wars. In one of these opium-wars in 1841, China had to cede Hong-Kong to the British. Over the years, most Chinese adults developed opium addiction, and demands soared. China started growing its own opium.

Shanghai conference of 1909

In 1906, when opium was still legal, 1.5% of global population used it, with total annual produce of 41000 tonnes. By 1909, China was growing as well as exporting opium across south-east Asia. Threat of loss of opium revenues, rise in public perception of morality, and a new Labor government in England, were all drivers for Shanghai conference. British, Dutch, French, Russian, and Chinese counterparts, all agreed to put an end to the opium trade.

Execution of this agreement was however delayed, due to first world war. In 1920, League of Nations took over this task, and in a few years there was another world war. Eventually the mantle was passed to the United Nations in 1946. It took another 15 years, to establish International Narcotics Control Board in 1961. Term narcotic was used to describe all illicit drugs. Various countries established their own narcotics control bureaus (NCBs) thereafter. Indian government established NCB in 1986.

Other Psychotropic substances (Cocaine, LSD and Cannabis)

Cocaine is another psychotropic substance, and has its origin in leaves of the Coca (or coka) plant. Locals in Andes highlands had consumed its leaves for years, to gain more energy. In 1859, chemists isolated cocaine, and it became quite popular. Origin of Coca-cola lies in Coca leaves (raw material for cocaine) and Kola-nuts (a plant source for caffeine). These were key ingredients in a 1886-new drink: The Coca-Cola. We knew about addiction potential of cocaine by 1903. US banned it in 1922. Manufacturing company modified Ingredients of coca-cola (which still remains a trade secret) thereafter. As South American Country of Columbia emerged as an illicit drug factory in 1970s, cocaine emerged as 2nd most common trafficked drug in the world.

LSD is a synthetic product and a short term-hallucinating agent. It was accidentally discovered in 1938. In 1947, Pharma company Sandoz marketed it as a medicine. Instead, its use became more popular in espionage. In 1968, UN convention added it to the list of banned illicit drugs. Most recent addition to the illicit list is cannabis, derived from a plant Cannabis indica. While paste of its fresh leaves (Bhang) is legal in India, other products (ganja, Charas, hashish, and marijuana) are not. US banned cannabis in 1971, and Indian ban came reluctantly only in 1985. After the year 2000, countries can independently take a call on legality of cannabis ban. Despite harms of its recreational use, a few countries have taken it off the illicit list.

Harms of IV use of illicit drugs

Hypodermic needle was invented in 1850. However, discovery of HIV in 1981, and its pandemic proportions by 1985 renewed our focus on re-use of needles. This was a new threat. In 1991 UN established UNDCP (United Nations drug control program), with its headquarters in Vienna. All subsequent drug abuse postage stamps have prominently depicted hypodermic needles. It is estimated that of about 11 million IV-drug abusers, about 20% are either living with HIV, Hepatitis B and C. All these infections can spread through contaminated needles.

From supply to demand

Curtailing supply of illicit drugs is a cornerstone in narcotic policing efforts. On the other hand, demand also needs to be controlled. In post-HIV era, there is a renewed focus on safety. Difficulties in reducing dependence also became more clear. HIV needle exchange program, and methadone replacement for opioid abuse are two examples of such approaches. Recent postage stamps have also focussed on de-addiction and rehabilitation choices. Post-rehabilitation, drug dependent individuals are portrayed as happy and colourful.

Marriage of Drugs and Crime

A century of drug control, has created a huge grey-market. In many parts of the world, this market also has linkages to corrupt-politicians and corrupt law-enforcing agencies. In 2002, UNDCP changed itself to UNODC (UN Office for drug and crime). Every year, UNODC marks the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The agency counts its success by comparing 2009 to 1909. Compared to 1909 number of 1.5%, today proportion of individuals dependent on illicit drugs is estimated to be 0.25% of global population. Annual global production of opium is also five times lower.

Despite all these efforts, in many parts of the world, use of illicit drugs is on a rise. As per World Drug report 2022, illicit drug use has increased by 26% as compared to a level ten years ago. Most drug users are young and in their most productive years of life. It is concerning that both manufacture and confiscation of illicit substances is at an all time high. Current annual value of illegal drug trade is pegged above 500 billion USD. We still have a long way to go.