RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LAW

PUNJAB

SOCIOLOGY III REPORT ANALYSIS

TOPIC- DRUG ADDICTION IN RURAL PUNJAB: TRENDS AND

PATTERNS OF DRUG ABUSE IN RURAL PATIALA.

Submitted By: Submitted To:

Prabhat Singhmar Mr. Aashish Gaur

21145 Asst. Professor of Sociology

Group 3 RGNUL, Patiala

 ABSTRACT

This research seeks to answer such questions as what prompted the person to start abusing
drugs, what effects drug use has had on the person's health and development, whether or not
the person has ever been arrested due to drug use, and whether or not the person's loved ones
are aware of the addiction.

INTRODUCTION

The vast epidemic of drug misuse that has overtaken human society has caused the most
profound social harm. The use of certain substances to produce pleasant effects on the brain
is referred to as drug misuse or substance abuse. Over 190 million people use drugs
worldwide, and the problem has been growing alarmingly, particularly among young
individuals under 30.
Drugs of abuse are usually psychoactive drugs that are used by people for various different
reasons which may include:
• Curiosity and peer pressure, especially among school children and young adults.
• The use of prescription drugs that were originally intended to target pain relief may have
turned into recreational use and become addictive.
• Chemicals may be used as part of religious practices or rituals.
• Recreational purposes.
• As a means of obtaining creative inspiration.
• There are several religious ceremonies that include the use of drugs.

Drug misuse and addiction have a complicated history that is well known. In this study, the
researchers explore the role that social variables have in the onset and persistence of drug use,
abuse, and addiction while highlighting the significance of family, peer groups, and living
situations. Examining availability and abuse rates according to age and gender demographics is
the aim of the current study. The research serves society because it enables drug policymakers to
develop more effective prevention and treatment programmes by helping them comprehend the
nature, severity, and other aspects of addictions.

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 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Research is conducted using both primary and secondary sources. The main source is an
empirical analysis, such as one found in a scholarly publication based on new research.
Primary data was collected using questionnaires and surveys of specific populations.

Data from medical treatment facilities and rehabs, as well as data from non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), are all examples of secondary sources that may be used to learn more
about drug misuse and its prevalence in a certain area.

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 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The research was done in Lachkani, a small hamlet in Patiala, by administering a

questionnaire (both open- and closed-ended) and conducting interviews there. Schedule
methods are used as tools to elicit information in structured interviews. We kept a number of
breather questions due to sensitivity of the topic, at first, they were not comfortable
answering to all of our questions so we asked them some circumstantial /peripheral questions
related to their daily life style, whereabouts of the family. We also had some open-ended
interviews in communicative tone to extract special cases. Both man and woman were
included in the pool of people who may fill out the survey. The majority of the people in the
sample frame, or operational definition of the population, are women from Lachkani between
the ages of 35 and 85. Convenience sampling and snowball sampling are non-probability
sampling strategies used when a comprehensive list of people to study is not accessible.
Researchers have used a variety of data gathering strategies, including on-the-ground
questionnaires, in-person interviews, telephone surveys, and online polls, since no one
approach can guarantee accurate results.
As one method can’t be perfect for data collection, the researchers will use more than one
method i.e., on field questionnaire, interview, interview schedule, etc. Following the same
logical corollary, the researchers used Exploratory Research design to answer what, why and
how of increasing drug addiction rates and delve into Diagnostic Research Design in an attempt
to find solution to lessen the evil, if not eradicate. Multivariate analysis was undertaken as drug
abuse among youngsters is explained in terms of various variables like lack of parental control,
impact of friends, getting excessive pocket money, curiosity, easy availability, etc.

RESULTS

1. People were not very open talking about their addiction to any type of drug.
2. Most of the people were addicted to either smoking or drinking or both.
3. Youngsters aged between 16-20 years old started using drugs because of peer pressure.
4. The female participants who participated in the survey confirmed the facts of deep
rooted patriarchy that exists in Urban as well as in Rural population of India. One of the
interviewee confirmed that they do not get any monetary assistance from their husbands
rather they have to ask their husband to buy it for them.

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 CONCLUSION

The Rural population of Lachkani offered warm welcome and at first they were reluctant to
talk about the problem of drugs, but after a simple conversation they provided us with
adequate information. The Conversations between interviewers and interviewees was at first
a bit difficult but later on, the locals shifted their mode of communication to Hindi. The level
of education in Lachkani is quite varied. We met a woman who never went to a school got
married at a young age of 13 years whereas we also met a woman who completed her higher
education but she has to give up her studies in order to get married.

At first they were hesitant to answer questions and were suspicious of how that data will be
used or interpreted. They were also afraid that their responses would be shared with higher
authorities and authority, making it difficult to even get the dialogue started. But they
suggested some measures and insights about the drug problem in Punjab.

1. Instead of drug rehabilitation centers they suggested there must be a community level
counselling centers.

2. The State has the adequate machinery and resources to combat the problem of drugs in
Punjab.