Indian Laws: How Women Get Trapped in Drug Abuse

While there are Indian laws to curb controlled substance trafficking, use and production, the fact is that drug abuse is rampant in urban India. An increasing number of affluent urban Indians are using drugs as a means to escape stress, depression and loneliness. The Indian society is currently experiencing change of roles and lifestyles, which although superficially prosperous is highlighted by many long term problems. This includes depression, anxiety and insecurity. Now, even Indian women are getting trapped into the vicious cycle of using drugs.

The most agonizing part of drug abuse is their impact on not only the individual drug abuser, but also on the drug abuser’s family. While the drug abuser struggles with relationships, finances, health and employment, the family bears the brunt of the abuser’s physical, emotional and financial distress. Typically, if a man is using drugs, the women in the family are most affected, with a large part of managing the family falling on their shoulders. The government of India, to gauge the impact of drug abuse on women and to understand the extent of substance abuse among women, commissioned three separate studies on it. These include the study on “Burden on Women due to Drug Abuse by Family Members” and “Study on Substance Abuse among Women” spanning nine urban sites.

Here is what the studies concluded:

Indian Laws: Hard Times Ahead for Women Due to Drug Abuse

The first study, “Burden on Women due to Drug Abuse by Family Members,” was conducted in Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Haryana, Pune, Manipur, Himachal Pradesh and Thiruvananthapuram. The study delved into the problems faced by women when a family member uses drugs. The study also aimed at understanding the psychological, social, economic health and family impact of drug abuse on these women. The study results, which included interviewing 179 women with a male drug abusing family member, can be used to frame effective Indian laws that truly empower the disadvantaged Indian women. The findings of the study revealed the following problems, due to which many women in India opted to take drugs:

• Increased economic burden felt by unemployment or diversion of money for drugs.
• Hardships caused by those working within and outside the home.
• Women coerced to part with their own earning to support the drug abuse, thus resulting in arguments, domestic violence and distress.
• Blamed by the abuser and the society for being responsible for the drug abuser’s habit, hiding the problem and not seeking timely treatment.
• Guilt, embarrassment, anxiety (55%), depression (47%), isolation and suicidal thoughts (35%) arising from the victimization.
• Resultant health problems, such as insomnia (47%), weight loss (40%), aches and pains (23%), and diabetes and hypertension. Although sexual relationships were also affected, women were mostly unaware of sexually transmitted diseases.
• When asked to rate their perceived burden on a scale of 1-100, 42.4% respondents perceived maximum burden in their life.

The burden on these women were aggravated by the lack of social support, and relatives not offering monetary help in nuclear family set ups. 

Indian Laws: Drug Abuse by Women Include Bizarre Sexual Behaviour

The second study, on drug abuse by women, analyzes the drug abuse patterns in women, special characteristics of these drug abusers, and relevant treatment issues. Conducted in various cities spanning Delhi, Mumbai and Aizawl, 75 women substance abusers were enrolled for the study. The Mumbai segment comprised of women who were involved in sex work, while the Delhi sample consisted of working women, and the Aizawl sample comprised drug abusers who were under treatment. The findings of the study include:

• 67% respondents were employed, with 45% engaged in commercial sex work.
• 31% respondents were single women and 32% were divorced.
• Mumbai women drug abusers ran away from home and were trapped in the flesh trade.
• 48% introduced to drugs by friends, 16% by husband or partner.
• 13% Mumbai respondents initiated into drugs due to the feelings of shame, humiliation and powerlessness.
• Many women experience lifestyle problems, such as insomnia, depression, anxiety about life, menstrual irregularities and guilt for neglecting children, due to drug abuse.
• Delhi and Aizawl respondents take to casual sex to support the drug habit.
• Common drugs of abuse include propoxyphene (35%), alcohol (33%), cough syrups (15%), minor tranquilizers (23%) and cannabis (11%).

Most respondents cited reasons that hinder their treatment as: concerns about leaving their children unattended at home, fear of withdrawal and exploitation, and lack of a support system.