National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) conducted a rapid action survey on drug abuse through its department of psychiatry and has proposed both the Central and State government to set up a national and regional monitoring cell to control the menace.

The Institute has warned the re-emergence of heroin in Bangalore and has highlighted the lacunae in co-ordination among law enforcing agencies.

The department of psychiatry now recommends setting up a national and regional monitoring mechanism for changes in drug abuse pattern, sex education and awareness at all levels, unconventional and interactive modes of reaching out to street children and better networking between the law enforcement agencies.

The department has expressed concern over the risky sexual behaviour of drug users and unsafe injection practices among intravenous drug users despite the high awareness on AIDS.

Drug abuse has become more visible in youngsters and Cannabis continues to be the most common drug of abuse followed by brown sugar, said Dr. Pratima Murthy, additional professor, department of psychiatry, NIMHANS.

Alcohol abuse remains a greater problem in Bangalore and the drug use, although increasing has not reached alarming proportions.

The department's study has revealed that Bangalore which has 0.6 percent of the country's population contributes three to four percent of drug users in the country.

An estimate of drug abusers showed that 8,195 persons used opioids, 27,951 use Cannabis and 25,000 were addicted to inhalants. Certain parts of the city like the East Bangalore showed highest drug abusive tendencies, while those in Central Bangalore showed use of inhalants were the highest.

"Inhalants among the economically weaker sections of the society depicted a major cause for concern," said Dr. Murthy.

Heroin, which emerged as the drug of the 80s has given way to other opiates like pentazocine and burprenorphine in the late 80s and early 90s. In the mid-90s, there was a shift to the oral narcotic analgesics. "But the recent trend according to the rapid action survey has revealed a re-emergence of heroin", stated Dr. Murthy.

Alcohol was found to be the beginning of drug abuse for all the victims. Among the 281 street children interviewed, 197 were found using drugs: inhalants were 48 per cent, alcoholics were 42 per cent and Cannabis were 16 percent. Inhalants commonly included Erasex typewriter thinner and petrol.

Meanwhile, the rapid action survey conducted by the department of psychiatry has pointed a finger at the loopholes in the procedures of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act (NPSA) The rate of conviction is extremely low compared to high acquittal rates, stated Dr. Murthy.

The rapid action survey was conducted with the assistance from the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) ad the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.