Birganj, Nov 16: The open border crossing has led to a rising drug addiction problem among the youth of Parsa, with many falling into the narcotics trap due to the easy availability of drugs from India. According to the District Police Office Parsa, most of the drug-related cases involve young people.

Jayaprakash Khetan, president of the Green City Community Police Service Center, stated that the influx of drugs through the open border has resulted in youth becoming victims of addiction. “Due to the open borders, even school-aged youth are falling into drug addiction,” he said. “Now is the time to protect them from this growing issue.”

Subas Bhatta, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Parsa, echoed Khetan’s concerns, adding that the easy access to drugs through the open border is causing significant harm to the youth in the region. He mentioned that awareness programs are being conducted in collaboration with community police to help students and young people stay away from drugs.

Most of the drug-related cases in Parsa involve individuals aged 15 to 45 years. According to the District Police Office, there were 227 drug-related cases in 2078/79, with 282 men and 9 women arrested. In 2079/80, the number of cases increased to 302, with 389 men and 13 women arrested. In the year 2080/81, there were 204 cases, with 242 men and 10 women arrested.

Drugs commonly used in Parsa include marijuana, hashish, heroin, opium, phenargan, dizilab, Nurfin, Natravet tablets, and Corex. Police Inspector Niroj Choulagain from the Ward Police Office Birta mentioned that regular public awareness programs are being conducted in collaboration with civil society organizations to combat drug addiction in the region.