between two major drug-producing regions: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran to the west and Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos to the east
in the middle of two main areas where illegal drugs are grown: the western group and the eastern group
Context and Background
The Golden Crescent and The Golden Triangle
India lies between the ‘Golden Crescent’ to the west (comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran) and the ‘Golden Triangle’ to the east (comprising Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos). These are the two most notorious illicit drug-producing and trafficking hubs in Asia, making India highly vulnerable to cross-border drug smuggling.
Sentence 2 of 14
English Original
While the West has historically dominated heroin production,the International Narcotics Control Boardhas saidMyanmar has become the world’s leading source of illicit opium while East and Southeast Asia remain major sources of methamphetamine.
While the West has historically dominatedheroin production
Although Western countries have usually been the biggest producers of heroin in the past
SubjectWho/What
the International Narcotics Control Board
an independent organization under the United Nations that monitors drug laws and treaties
VerbWhat is happening
has said
stated or reported
ObjectWhat receives action
Myanmar has become the world’s leading source of illicit opium while East and Southeast Asia remain major sources of methamphetamine
Myanmar is now the top supplier of illegal opium globally, while East and Southeast Asian regions continue to supply most of the methamphetamine
Context and Background
The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
Established in 1968, the INCB is an independent, quasi-judicial monitoring body under the United Nations. It plays a critical role in tracking global compliance with international drug control treaties. Its recent reports highlight Myanmar overtaking Afghanistan as the largest producer of opium after the Taliban banned poppy cultivation in Afghanistan.
Sentence 3 of 14
English Original
Officialshave saiddrugs are being received at Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu via maritime routes.
drugs are being received at Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu via maritime routes
illegal drugs are coming into the states of Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu by sea
Sentence 4 of 14
English Original
Similarly,some drugsare produceddomesticallyusing illegally diverted pharmaceutical ingredients,aided by the fact that individuals possessing small quantities of heroin can attract up to six months’ imprisonment, whereas drugmakers that cannot account for lakhs of doses often face only slaps on the wrist.
using illegally divertedpharmaceutical ingredients
by using medical chemicals that are stolen or sold illegally from factories
AdjunctAdditional info
aided by the fact that individuals possessing small quantities of heroin can attract up to six months’ imprisonment, whereas drugmakers that cannot account for lakhs of doses often face only slaps on the wrist
helped by the fact that people caught with tiny amounts of drugs go to jail for six months, while big drug factories that lose track of millions of pills get almost no punishment
Context and Background
NDPS Act Penalties: Possession vs. Manufacturing
Under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, penalties are graded based on quantity: small, intermediate, or commercial. Possessing small quantities of contraband (like heroin) can lead to rigorous imprisonment of up to 1 year. However, loopholes exist where pharmaceutical manufacturers guilty of diverting precursor chemicals (like tramadol or codeine) into the black market often face only regulatory fines or licensing actions rather than criminal prosecution, creating a policy imbalance.
Sentence 5 of 14
English Original
The rise of Myanmar, where the territory under ethnic armed organisations is expanding, as a key sourceisalso troublingsince it shares a border with India.
India’s main government agency for fighting drug trafficking
VerbWhat is happening
has noted
has observed or recorded
ObjectWhat receives action
a dramatic surge in the use of drones to smuggle drugs across borders, especially over Punjab
a very big increase in using remote-controlled flying devices to carry drugs illegally over borders, particularly in Punjab
Context and Background
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Drone Smuggling
The NCB is India’s premier drug law enforcement agency. In recent years, particularly along the International Border in Punjab, traffickers from Pakistan have increasingly deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to drop payloads of heroin and synthetic drugs. This technology bypasses traditional border fencing and sensors, forcing Indian border forces (like the BSF) to deploy anti-drone technologies.
Sentence 7 of 14
English Original
Traffickersare organisingover the darknetandusingcryptocurrencies.
to adopt a ‘whole of society’ approach recognising the public health and social dimensions
to use a policy that involves all citizens and communities in solving the problem, acknowledging that drug abuse is a health and social issue rather than just a crime
hitting or hurting patients and forcing them to stop drugs suddenly without proper care
VerbWhat is happening
are frequently reported
are often told to the authorities or public
AdjunctAdditional info
from many private centres
coming out of private clinics or rehabilitation homes
Sentence 12 of 14
English Original
Punjabhasan extensive network of de addiction centres providing opioid substitution therapy, and some northeastern States to a secondary extent,butmost large Stateshavemuch less access relative to need.
Punjab (with ellipsis of some northeastern States)
The state of Punjab and some states in northeast India
VerbWhat is happening
has
possesses or has established
ObjectWhat receives action
an extensive network of de addiction centres providing opioid substitution therapy, and some northeastern States to a secondary extent
a large group of clinics that help people stop using strong drugs by giving them safer medicine, which is also true for some northeast states
SubjectWho/What
most large States
the majority of large states in India
VerbWhat is happening
have
possess
ObjectWhat receives action
much less access relative to need
far fewer clinics than what the people actually require
Context and Background
Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST)
OST is an evidence-based harm reduction strategy where illicit opioids (like heroin) are replaced with medically prescribed, longer-acting, lower-risk agonists like Buprenorphine or Methadone. This therapy reduces withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and the risk of infectious diseases (like HIV) spread through needle-sharing. Punjab has been a pioneer in India in scaling up OST through its government-run centres.
Sentence 13 of 14
English Original
Policymakersmust realizethat they cannot enforce their way out of a drug abuse crisis.
Scaling upharm reduction services, rather than adopting a purely punitive policy
Increasing health services that help drug users stay safe and healthy, instead of just punishing them through jail and laws
VerbWhat is happening
remains
continues to be
ComplementCompletes meaning
India’s best bet
the most likely successful path for India
AdjunctAdditional info
to address drug abuse
to deal with or solve the drug problem
Context and Background
Harm Reduction vs. Punitive Drug Policies
Harm reduction is a public health philosophy that accepts drug use as a reality and aims to minimize its harmful effects (through clean needle exchanges, OST, and counseling) rather than focusing solely on criminal justice and abstinence. Critics of purely punitive regimes (like the War on Drugs) argue that mass incarceration does not reduce demand or supply but drives drug users underground, increasing health risks. Countries like Portugal have successfully decriminalized drug possession to focus heavily on harm reduction and rehabilitation.
Sentence 1 of 14
Sentence 1 of 14
Indiais locatedbetween two major drug-producing regions: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran to the west and Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos to the east.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
India
The nation we are discussing
Verb
is located
is situated or positioned
Adjunct
between two major drug-producing regions: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran to the west and Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos to the east
in the middle of two main areas where illegal drugs are grown: the western group and the eastern group
Sentence 2 of 14
While the West has historically dominated heroin production,the International Narcotics Control Boardhas saidMyanmar has become the world’s leading source of illicit opium while East and Southeast Asia remain major sources of methamphetamine.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
While the West has historically dominated heroin production
Although Western countries have usually been the biggest producers of heroin in the past
Subject
the International Narcotics Control Board
an independent organization under the United Nations that monitors drug laws and treaties
Verb
has said
stated or reported
Object
Myanmar has become the world’s leading source of illicit opium while East and Southeast Asia remain major sources of methamphetamine
Myanmar is now the top supplier of illegal opium globally, while East and Southeast Asian regions continue to supply most of the methamphetamine
Sentence 3 of 14
Officialshave saiddrugs are being received at Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu via maritime routes.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Officials
Government officers or authorities
Verb
have said
stated or reported
Object
drugs are being received at Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu via maritime routes
illegal drugs are coming into the states of Gujarat, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu by sea
Sentence 4 of 14
Similarly,some drugsare produceddomesticallyusing illegally diverted pharmaceutical ingredients,aided by the fact that individuals possessing small quantities of heroin can attract up to six months’ imprisonment, whereas drugmakers that cannot account for lakhs of doses often face only slaps on the wrist.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
Similarly
In the same way
Subject
some drugs
certain narcotic substances
Verb
are produced
are made or manufactured
Adjunct
domestically
inside the country
Adjunct
using illegally diverted pharmaceutical ingredients
by using medical chemicals that are stolen or sold illegally from factories
Adjunct
aided by the fact that individuals possessing small quantities of heroin can attract up to six months’ imprisonment, whereas drugmakers that cannot account for lakhs of doses often face only slaps on the wrist
helped by the fact that people caught with tiny amounts of drugs go to jail for six months, while big drug factories that lose track of millions of pills get almost no punishment
Sentence 5 of 14
The rise of Myanmar, where the territory under ethnic armed organisations is expanding, as a key sourceisalso troublingsince it shares a border with India.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The rise of Myanmar, where the territory under ethnic armed organisations is expanding, as a key source
Myanmar becoming a main supplier of drugs, especially since rebel armies are taking over more land there
Verb
is
is
Complement
also troubling
also worrying
Adjunct
since it shares a border with India
because it is right next to India and shares a land boundary
Sentence 6 of 14
The Narcotics Control Bureauhas noteda dramatic surge in the use of drones to smuggle drugs across borders, especially over Punjab.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The Narcotics Control Bureau
India’s main government agency for fighting drug trafficking
Verb
has noted
has observed or recorded
Object
a dramatic surge in the use of drones to smuggle drugs across borders, especially over Punjab
a very big increase in using remote-controlled flying devices to carry drugs illegally over borders, particularly in Punjab
Sentence 7 of 14
Traffickersare organisingover the darknetandusingcryptocurrencies.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Traffickers
People who trade in illegal goods like drugs
Verb
are organising
are planning and working together
Adjunct
over the darknet
on the hidden part of the internet that is hard for police to track
Verb
using
making use of
Object
cryptocurrencies
digital money that is hard to trace because it is not run by any government or bank
Sentence 8 of 14
The pillars of India’s responsethusaimto keep the enforcement regime from being out-innovated and improve regulatory certainty.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
The pillars of India’s response
The main parts of India’s plan to fight drugs
Adjunct
thus
therefore or as a result
Verb
aim
have the goal
Object
to keep the enforcement regime from being out-innovated and improve regulatory certainty
to prevent the police and laws from being defeated by new technology of criminals, and to make the rules clear
Sentence 9 of 14
Statesare tryingto adopt a ‘whole of society’ approach recognising the public health and social dimensions.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
States
The regional state governments in India
Verb
are trying
are attempting or making efforts
Object
to adopt a ‘whole of society’ approach recognising the public health and social dimensions
to use a policy that involves all citizens and communities in solving the problem, acknowledging that drug abuse is a health and social issue rather than just a crime
Sentence 10 of 14
However,Indianeedsto do more.
Phrase Breakdown
Adjunct
However
But or on the other hand
Subject
India
The nation and its government
Verb
needs
requires or must
Object
to do more
to take more actions and steps
Sentence 11 of 14
Physical abuse and forced detoxificationare frequently reportedfrom many private centres.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Physical abuse and forced detoxification
hitting or hurting patients and forcing them to stop drugs suddenly without proper care
Verb
are frequently reported
are often told to the authorities or public
Adjunct
from many private centres
coming out of private clinics or rehabilitation homes
Sentence 12 of 14
Punjabhasan extensive network of de addiction centres providing opioid substitution therapy, and some northeastern States to a secondary extent,butmost large Stateshavemuch less access relative to need.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Punjab (with ellipsis of some northeastern States)
The state of Punjab and some states in northeast India
Verb
has
possesses or has established
Object
an extensive network of de addiction centres providing opioid substitution therapy, and some northeastern States to a secondary extent
a large group of clinics that help people stop using strong drugs by giving them safer medicine, which is also true for some northeast states
Subject
most large States
the majority of large states in India
Verb
have
possess
Object
much less access relative to need
far fewer clinics than what the people actually require
Sentence 13 of 14
Policymakersmust realizethat they cannot enforce their way out of a drug abuse crisis.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Policymakers
People who write laws and create government strategies
Verb
must realize
need to understand or accept
Object
that they cannot enforce their way out of a drug abuse crisis
that the government cannot solve the drug problem only by arresting people or using police force
Sentence 14 of 14
Scaling up harm reduction services, rather than adopting a purely punitive policy,remainsIndia’s best betto address drug abuse.
Phrase Breakdown
Subject
Scaling up harm reduction services, rather than adopting a purely punitive policy
Increasing health services that help drug users stay safe and healthy, instead of just punishing them through jail and laws
Verb
remains
continues to be
Complement
India’s best bet
the most likely successful path for India
Adjunct
to address drug abuse
to deal with or solve the drug problem
Reading Comprehension
Practice questions based on this editorial
Reading Comprehension - India Drug Abuse Editorial
Practice reading comprehension questions based on the editorial about India's drug abuse challenges and policy responses.
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