Cannabis misuse on the rise

Fifty two percent increase in cannabis related arrests during 2010 compared to 2009:

Disna Mudalige

Present trends indicate an increase in the misuse of cannabis, the latest Handbook of Drug Abuse Information issued by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board said.

According to statistics of the handbook, there had been a 52 percent increase in cannabis related arrests during 2010 compared to 2009.

Around 20,259 persons had been arrested for cannabis related offences in 2010 while this number was 13,300 in 2009.

The total number of drug related arrests were 29,796 in 2010.

Among this, 9,520 were arrested for heroin related offences, 12 for hashish related offences, one for cocaine related offences and four for psychotropic substances related offences.

Cannabis is the only plant (drug) cultivated illicitly in Sri Lanka. The estimated land area under cannabis cultivation is nearly 500 hectares, according to information in the handbook.

Observations on seized cannabis cultivations imply that modern agricultural methods are being used for this.

It also stated that the highest number of cannabis cases (26 percent) were reported from Colombo district followed by Gampaha (nine percent) and Hambantota (eight percent). The quantity of cannabis seized countrywide was 114,390 kgs in 2010, where as this amount was 84,605 kgs in 2009.

Fifty eight percent arrested for cannabis related offences were aged 30 or above.

The handbook also revealed that there is a risk of heroin use spreading to remote towns and rural areas though it was initially confined to Colombo city and few provincial towns.

Heroin is smuggled into the island by fishing boats or by couriers posing as tourists. In 2010, 142 kgs of heroin were seized and 9,520 persons arrested.

The handbook also revealed that during the last five years, 58 foreigners were arrested in Sri Lanka for drug related offences including 25 Pakistanis, four Indians and six Maldivians.

It also said that the reported number of clients treated for drug abuse countrywide was 2,411 in 2010.

The majority were treated at Treatment Centres of National Dangerous Drugs Control Board.