Nepal’s Youth Fall Prey to Drugs, Turn to Theft to Fund Habit

In Nepal’s Madhes region, a growing number of young people are turning to theft to fund their drug habits. According to police, many of those arrested for theft are found to be drug users.

“Many of those arrested for theft are drug users,” said Madhusudan Nyapane, spokesperson for the Dhanusha District Police Office. “They steal to buy drugs.”

Navin Malik, director of Sparsh Nepal, an organization working to control drug use, said that young people who become addicted to drugs often start by asking friends or family members for money. “When they can no longer get money from these sources, they turn to theft,” he said.

Easy Access to Drugs Across the Border

The open border between Nepal and India has made it easy for people to access drugs. Some young people even travel to India to buy drugs, while others buy them in Nepal and sell them to users.

“The open border has made it difficult to control the flow of drugs,” said Nyapane. “We are conducting awareness programs and monitoring the border to control the flow of drugs.”

Young People at Risk

According to police, most of the drug users who turn to theft are between the ages of 15 and 28. Data from the Madhes Province Police shows that about 14% of drug users are under the age of 20.

“Young people are at risk of being drawn into drug use and then turning to theft to fund their habit,” said police officials.

Challenges in Rehabilitation

Rehabilitating drug users is a challenge, with many centers lacking the necessary resources and facilities. “The number of rehabilitation centers, their quality, treatment methods, and post-treatment social rehabilitation are all challenges,” said officials.

Home Minister Fakir Miya said that the provincial government is ready to provide necessary resources to the police to control drug use. “We need to establish rehabilitation centers and conduct awareness programs to bring young people out of drug addiction,” he said.