Guwahati, July 10 -- Assam's campaign against drugs has emerged as one of the most visible anti-narcotics initiatives in the country. Large-scale seizures, frequent arrests, and the destruction of confiscated narcotics have signalled a strong political and administrative commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks. For a State located along one of India's most strategically sensitive corridors, these efforts deserve recognition. Yet the real measure of success will not lie in the quantity of drugs seized but in whether Assam can reduce both the demand for narcotics and the social conditions that allow the illicit trade to flourish.

Assam occupies a unique geographical position. It serves as the gateway to India's Northeast while ...