"Narcotic" refers to any illegal or unlawfully possessed drug including marijuana and cocaine, even though these substances are not considered narcotics in a medical context.

The central drug policy making body within the United Nations, for instance, is the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, although the United Nations officially defines a narcotic drug to be "any of the substances, natural or synthetic, in Schedules I and II of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and that Convention was amended by the 1972 Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

Drug use and occupation

The use of drugs was more common in Sudan among skilled laborers and prisoners with unlawful jobs (thieves, drug dealers) [44.9% (423) and 18.3% (173) of all drug users respectively, according to a recent study conducted by the Sudanese government.

The use of alcohol and hashish by people varied from one prison to another; it was found to be the highest at Omdurman and they constituted 61.8% (176) and 22.1% (19) of alcohol and hashish users respectively, the above study revealed

Drug use and income

Drug use was common in Sudan among people with high and low monthly income; these constituted 39% and 36.8% of the drug users respectively according to the above-mentioned study. Alcohol and hashish use were more prevalent among prisoners of low monthly income 52.0% and 50.4% of alcohol and hashish users, according to the same study.

Reasons for the spread of drugs

The principal reasons for the use of drugs are encouragement by friends, social pressures, pleasure, curiosity and treatment Diazepam and barbiturates drugs were principally used for treatment.

However, the director of the Combating Drugs Directorate,  Maj.Gen .Hamid Manan, said some  people thought that growing narcotics were not prohibited by Islam, because they regarded them as types of plants. He added that the outbreak of rebellion in some area in Sudan contributed to the spread of drugs.

How state combat drugs

The National Assembly debated this matter recently, admitting the increase in drug use across countries. Members of parliament promised to submit legislations relating to combating narcotics. They suggested allocating budget for that, including developing technical mechanisms to fight drugs.

The Deputy speaker expressed views in the debate aimed at closing loopholes in the laws of drugs and psychotropic in order to prevent the illegal use of drugs.

Anti Drug Police department revealed a few days ago the opening of five thousand charges against farmers and dealers in Hashish. The so-called "quick lightening" campaign corresponds with the International Day Against Drug Abuse.

Conclusion

Governments, NGOs, schools, and the media must work hand-in-hand and our collective efforts must focus especially on young people -- through education, outreach, peer-to-peer networks, and using platforms that inspire young people such as sport, music and entertainment. Equally important is to engage and encourage parents and teachers to play their part in full, according to some anti drugs experts.

It would help if combat drugs through law enforcement, and through working with the producing countries to give farmers sustainable alternatives to growing illicit crops. In this way, we must strive to tackle poverty and drug supply at the same time, the experts said.