The scene is quite common in the Maldives. Students taking loans to fund their education, becoming debtors before even starting their careers. However, the youth who decides to follow the drug route has an all access pass to indulge their actions, in most cases supported by the state.
Many young persons have serious questions over their future, mainly among them on what path to choose for their future.
The war on drugs is an expensive one, but ultimately one that is an endless pit, an investment without any return.
UAE statistics show that annually the country spends over 5.5 billion riyals over a period of five years on the war against drugs. There are no positive results; the number of youth falling to drug use had increased annually.
Reports clearly show recovery is a personal choice, irrespective of the huge sums spent on rehabilitation. Faith plays a huge role in successful recovery and in many case it is the sole motivation.
The same applies to the Maldives. In spite of the number of impressive reports released on the issue, the reality at the ground level remains clear and unchanged.
The first aspect is the Government policy on drugs. In Islamic Shariah drugs are a punishable criminal offense, here it is conveniently and consistently ignored. It is seen as a disease; the users are seen are victims.
However, it is now apparent that a new approach had to be sought for the issue.
Addiction is not just for drugs; Maldives is addicted on various social ills including fornication and theft. Why is it that drugs are not a punishable offense and fornication and theft are punished? Who gave the divine authority to portion crimes to certain sections? These are some of the questions the youth are asking.
We proudly declare our nation as a 100 percent Muslim nation, but when it comes to application we deny and implement what is convenient for that time.
So at this junction isn’t it more apt to ask what is the better investment: spending MVR 300 million on a 1000 students or on 30 drug addicts. Nevertheless, it is an undeniable fact that drugs had to be combated for the future of the nation.
Researchers had agreed that rehabilitation only works if those who peddle drugs are punished for their crimes.