With a history of drug involvement in film industry, many stars from Sandalwood, Bollywood and also Tollywood have been under the scanner lately. With rising cases, surprisingly drug consumption now seemingly appears to be as common as smoking a cigarette or consuming alcohol among a close knit circle of few industries. However, it cannot be said that every celeb consumes just because of the suspect reports.
Why is drug addiction illegal?. This is a very common question in everyone’s mind. When consuming alcohol, Gutka, smoking cigarette or even watching porn can turn you addictive and pose threat to health, why drug alone is an offence!.
why is drug consumption even illegal in the first place?
Many drugs that found to be a criminal offence, began to be used for medicinal uses earlier, that include opiates, cocaine, MDMA, and amphetamines. They were largely available over the counter at pharmacies or through licensed sellers. But has been overly misused for wrong purposes.
Around 30 years ago, many states and territories (South Australia, ACT and Northern Territory) excluded the criminal penalties for personal use of cannabis, which means it’s illegal, but not a criminal offence.
In all other jurisdictions possession charges can be subject to “diversion” by police or court, allowing offenders to avoid a criminal penalty.
Under THE NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES ACT, 1985 (NDPS it is illegal for a person to produce/manufacture/cultivate, possess, sell, purchase, transport, store, and/or consume any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
Speaking apart from legalities, countless cases have been registered involving drug cases not only India but across the world. To keep it in simple terms, many drug addicts under its influence, not only self harmed themselves but also exploited and even conspired to murder or rape women, which led to enforcement of strict laws and criminal offence.
Let us look into the science behind consuming drugs
Consuming a recreational drug causes an immeasurable surge in levels or dopamine in your brain, which trigger feelings of instant pleasure. Your brain remembers those feelings and wants them to experience constantly.
If one becomes addicted, the substance becomes as crucial as other survival behaviors, such as eating and drinking. Changes in your brain unduly interfere with your capacity to think clearly, exercise, food judgement, control your behavior, and be normal without drugs
Addiction is a complex disorder characterized by compulsive drug use. Each drug produces different physical and psychological effects, however all abused substances share a common factor: repeated use can alter the way the brain looks and functions. Even the de-addiction makes an individual vulnerable to addiction as an aftermath.
Do all users become addicted?
It depends on: Your genes, mental health, family, and social environment, all are key factors in addiction.
Risk factors include:
- Family history of addiction
- Abuse, isolation, or other traumatic experiences in childhood
- Mental illness such as depression and anxiety
- Early use of drugs
- Method of administration – smoking or injecting a drug may increase its addictive potential
Apart from that many physical, psychological and behavioural changes happen after math of drug addiction that involves depression, anxiety, distribute in sleep-wake cycle, pupil dilation, sudden weight loss or gain, hyperactivity, impaired vision, illusion etc.
Why are stars mostly involved and claimed to be suspects in the drug cases?
First of all to work under tight deadlines and high expectations can be distressing for celebs. And then they are driven to take a much needed break however they do everything to succeed no matter what.
Also there is peer pressure, sort of loneliness and lots of attachment to things available to numb the mind. And in view of this, a lot of artists are sensitive and prone to be emotional despite the fame factor.
Loving relationships end in futile ways with bloated egos and chances of having polyamory(being in intimate relationships with multiple partners). Though fame and money seem to be a priority, love and break from stress becomes more important, which is a common thing kept under wraps. All that seem to be enjoyable, slowly diminishes.
They need something to numb that stress and pain. There’s also a belief among the celebs that snorting or injecting drug will not only relieve them but also propel them to succeed in their respective careers at great speed. And hence resort to drug addiction.
Also they are extremely entitled, spoiled, and largely disconnected from the common crowd and that’s the major problem. Becoming a celebrity is an immensely tough and lonely journey, as everyone who you knew changes, and all of a sudden. Many try to befriend asking favours and you don’t know who to trust. This shuns them from being from most of the people except some close associates, family members and extended family members
The most important thing to note is despite having become addicted, the lavish life amid fame and expectations does not let them to break free from addiction. It takes months and years of conviction and hard work to be with de-addiction, as relapse will create more addiction actually.
The rich and famous one’s do not have time to evade from all that and rediscover themselves to cure addiction.They learn to survive with the addiction. It slowly programs their brains to take more and they battle it daily. With addiction either you win the battle or the addiction wins.
Celebs lead life under constant scrutiny, and every move they make is recorded and remarked upon, and every mistake they commit is often blown out of proportion. They face constant criticism and lashed out harshly by critics and other media channels.
They are no different from employees and always on the verge of losing their contracts like jobs. They become isolated in a bubble, which pushes them to have access to illicit drugs. Adding to it, they do have lots of disposable income. However to re-emphasise not all celebs consume it. Few boldly face the tough phases and sustain valiantly.