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TECHNOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN COMBATING SOCIETAL DRUG ABUSE

TECHNOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN COMBATING SOCIETAL DRUG ABUSE

Saksham Sharma, B.A. LL.B. (5th year), Khalsa College of Law, Amritsar

Sahibpreet Singh, LLM (2023-24), Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

ABSTRACT

Drug dependency is a worldwide problem that affects one person along with his kinsmen and neighbors. This essay will examine the complex relationship between drugs and technology and assert that technology can be a puzzle in all of this, as both cause and solution at once. The issue of drug abuse is very alarming across the globe with millions affected every year. India has been grappling with opioid crisis particularly high death rates due to overdose. Among youth also substance use is going up. There are several effects in society including overburdened healthcare systems, increased acts of crime and violence, broken families, economic decline and social disintegration. Technological interventions offer a holistic approach towards addressing this problem. Mobile apps and virtual reality could be interesting educational tools that sensitize people about drugs while still enabling them to conduct self-assessments. Because blockchain technology guarantees transparency along this channel thereby mitigating fraudulence risks connected to fake medications. Artificial Intelligence also assists law enforcement through analyzing data, predicting trends, following the dark web or even identifying potential at risk persons. The potential of quantum computing and genetic profiling to revolutionize drug development and personalized care is promising. The interdisciplinary application of these technologies, coupled with artificial intelligence, signals a hopeful future in the fight against drug addiction. Advocacy for the adoption of these technological advancements and endorsement of innovative solutions will foster a brighter, technology-enhanced future. This will bolster collective efforts to combat drug abuse and protect societal well-being. The legal and academic communities have a crucial role to play in this endeavor, and their active participation is essential for success.