Sarcouncil Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract: This analysis explored the implementation gap in the National Narcotics Control Policy through a comparison between punitive and public health approaches. This study was mainly aimed at examining the extent of policy implementation and determine factors contributing to the gap between policymaking and action. The present study utilized a quantitative research design to collect primary data through a structured questionnaire via five-point Likert scale from the stakeholders including law enforcement agency officials, healthcare professionals, policy implementers or policymakers and NGO workers. Using Cochran’s formula, we calculated the minimum sample size to be 384 respondents. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis and regression techniques were used to examine the relationship between study variables. The results showed that punishment was tougher, but less effective at reducing drug dependence and recidivism. Conversely, public health-based approaches that focused on rehabilitation and community-based interventions demonstrated greater potential for sustainable outcomes, but were limited by resource constraints, social stigmatization and institutional weaknesses. The study findings suggested that an approach striking a balance between enforcement as one side and bolstering public health activities on the other was necessary to minimize the implementation gap and enhance effectiveness of narcotics control policy overall.