Africans To Blame For Rising Drug Menace, Says Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara

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In a controversial statement, Karnataka's Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday blamed Africans for the growing problem of drug addiction in the state.

Addressing the state legislative council, the minister said that the cities of Mangaluru and Bengaluru had registered the most drug related cases in 2016, at 239 and 128 respectively. "The issue of illegal drugs consumption is quite serious. Over the last few years drug peddling has grown by a large majority due to more number of African nationals coming to the state and entering the illegal trade," Parameshwara said in response to a question raised by a member of the council.

He added that drug dealers were primarily targeting educational hubs and that the government was considering strict measures to tackle the menace.

Addressing the increasing trend of drugs being procured through online channels, Parameshwara said that the cyber cell of the police department was tackling the problem.

Earlier this year, Parameshwara was widely criticised after he said that incidents of molestation usually occur on Christmas and New Year's eve.

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The 5 Drugs Most Commonly Abused By Post-50s

#5 Stimulants(01 of05)

While stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall are highly addictive, abuse among older people is not as widespread as it with young adults. However, illicit stimulants like cocaine are more common. In 2008, 63 percent of 118,495 emergency room visits made by those 50 and older involved cocaine. The number of older cocaine users likely increased in the past few years since more than 550,000 adults aged 50 and older reported cocaine use, according to a 2011 report.(Image via Flickr, Alex Dodd) (credit:Flickr/Alex Dodd)

#4 Antidepressants(02 of05)

While the names are varied -- Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro, among others -- the effects are similar. Used primarily to treat depression and mood disorders, antidepressants have a slight potential for abuse and addiction. According to a 2010 report from The Drug Abuse Warning Network, antidepressants contributed to 8.6 percent of emergency room visits by adults 50 and older. (credit:AP)

#3 Sedatives(03 of05)

Most often used to treat anxiety and insomnia, sedatives like Valium and Xanax may become addictive if taken incorrectly, or used too often. The Drug Abuse Warning Network identified sedatives, or depressants, as the pharmaceutical involved in 31.8 percent of emergency room visits by older adults. (Image via Flickr, Dean812) (credit:Flickr/Dean812)

#2 Pain Relievers(04 of05)

Painkillers like Oxycodone, Vicodin and Morphine have a high potential for abuse. According to a Drug Abuse Warning Network report, pain relievers were the type of pharmaceutical most often involved in emergency room visits for post-50s, encompassing 43.5 percent of senior ER visits. The vast majority of painkiller-related ER visits -- 33.9 percent -- involved high-level narcotics, rather than over-the-counter pain relievers. (credit:AP)

#1 Medical Marijuana(05 of05)

While many people have medical prescriptions for marijuana use, 3 million adults aged 50 and older have illegally used the drug within the past year, according to a 2011 report from The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a branch of the U.S. Government's Department of Health and Human Services. Out of 4.8 million older adults who used illicit drugs, marijuana use was more common than non-medical use of prescription medicines among the 50 to 59 age range (though the opposite was true for those 60 and older). Marijuana is also far more popular among men than women aged 50 and older. (credit:Getty)

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Africans To Blame For Rising Drug Menace, Says Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara

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