What are Narcotic drugs ?

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The term 'narcotic' medically means any psychoactive compound with sleep inducing property. Natcotic drugs are totally prohibited in U.S. and are mainly plant based. Over dose can cause sudden death. The common drugs used are Opium, Morphine, Heroin, Codeine, Thebine, Cocaine, Hashish, LSD (Hallucinogen), THC (Tetrahydrocannabinols), Methamphetamine, Methaqualone etc.

The 'Single Convention for Natcotic Drugs, 1961' by UN has listed 116 narcotic drugs. Drugs are primarily used to treat severe pain. Drug abusers require treatment and rehabilitation.

The trade and usage of Narcotic drugs is illegal in India and many other countries. The cultivation, distribution and sale, export/import, usage/possession of narcotic drugs are punishable crimes. Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 specifies the related offences and Penalties in India.







Profit from illicit trafficking of hard drugs is 10 times more. Tikra Usma and Tikra Murtaza villages in Barabanki, UP, India earn Rs. 1500 crore annually from drug trafficking.

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Sec 19 of NDPS Act, 1985 : Illegal cultivation and disposal of Opium shall be punishable with 10 to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs. one to two lakh.

Opium Poppy (Papaver Somniferum) cultivation - From the seed, latex is extracted from a cut. It is the source of narcotic analgesics morphine, codeine and heroin. In 2006, 6100 ton of Opium was produced in Afghanistan (82% of world's production). Minor producers are Pakistan, Northern India, Thailand, Myanmar, Turkey, Laos, Mexico. The retail price is 16000 USD per kg.



Sec 20 of NDPS Act, 1985 : Illegal cultivation of cannabis shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment, which may extend to 10 years and also with a fine which may extend to Rs. one lakh.

Those who produces, manufactures, possesses, sells, purchases, transports, import/export inter state shall be punishable -

Case 1 : In small quantity*, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment, which may extend to 6 months or with fine which may extend to Rs 10000 or with both.

Case 2 : Lesser than the commercial quantity*, but greater than the small quantity, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment, which may extend to 10 years and also with a fine which may extend to Rs. one lakh.

Case 3 : In Commercial quantity, shall be punishable with 10 to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs. one to two lakh.

Persons convicted for offences involving commercial quantity of any narcotic drug, for second subsequent offence shall be punishable with Death penalty.

Commercial quantity of narcotic drugs

Cocaine/LSD/ THC : 500 g
Morphine/ Heroin/ Codeine/ Thebaine : 1 kg
Opium : 10 kg
Hashish : 20 kg

Cannabis plant : Marijuana, Hashish and Hashish oil are it's derivatives.



Hashish



Cocaine is extracted from coca leaves, mainly cultivated in Peru and Bolivia. Consumed by chewing or brewing. It has a worldwide market of around 80 billion USD (Illicit trade). Around 700 t pure cocaine is produced worldwide. Cocaine is the most popular recreational drug in Europe after marijuana. Spain has maximum number of cocaine abusers.

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Usage : Opium smoking and eating, coca leaf chewing, cannabis resin smoking

Heroin is a strong drug used to relieve pain derived from Opium. It is less bulky and easy to smuggle. It can be taken orally, smoked, vaporised, inhaled and by intravenous injection.

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Around 250 million people worldwide are abusers of psychotropic substances. Globally, more than 100 000 opium users die annually.



Codeine is used in Cold/Cough OTC prescriptions.

Morphine is a powerful opiate

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The purest form of heroin (No. 4) is white powder, which can be easily dissolved and injected.



Semi purified form of heroin (No.3) is brown sugar consumed via smoking.



No.1 & 2 are raw unprocessed heroin.



Black tar heroin

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Opium harvest in Chittorgarh area of Rajasthan, India.

Legal opium cultivation in India : With licence from Central Government, a farmer can grow opium poppy in 0.1 hectare of land for medicinal and pharmaceutical purpose. In India around 1000 farmers legally cultivate Opium. The cultivated crop is offered to guests as a welcome greeting in Rajasthan. Other places of legal opium cultivation are Barabanki (UP), Mandi (HP)