Abstract:
We can observe that various socio-economic changes have taken place in the social structure
in the post-COVID-19 period. In modern society, human needs have expanded, and to meet
these needs, individuals have become increasingly interdependent. Society has evolved, and
the world is gradually transforming into a single global community. As a result, since the end
of the COVID- 19 pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in the production of various
substances, including drugs, among the people living in the Vakarai region of the Batticaloa
district. This study aims to closely examine this phenomenon by identifying the rise in drug
production and the resulting challenges to human security. It seeks to gain a deeper
understanding of the evolving social structure in this context. During the COVID-19
pandemic, several critical factors such as lockdown measures, limited access to public services,
the suspension of commercial activities, rising prices of goods, and restrictions on human
mobility created significant challenges to the economic livelihood of individuals and
communities. In the Vakarai region, the local population continues to face multiple hardships,
many of which pose direct threats to human security, as highlighted in this study. Drugs are
consumed by people for intoxication and entertainment. They affect the body, mental, social
behaviour among the individuals and community. When drug addicts are identified as illegal,
they are arrested by the police and then sent to rehabilitation centers at the request of the
family and released after the treatment. Additionally, data indicates a sharp rise in the use of
narcotic substances such as cannabis, heroin, methamphetamine, and crystal meth (commonly
referred to as “ice”) among school-aged children and young adults in both urban and rural
areas. Consequently, there has been a rapid increase in the number of drug users, leading to a
range of negative health and social impacts. This qualitative research uses primary and
secondary data through descriptive analysis. The statistical data were gathered from Vakarai
Divisional Secretariat and other materials related this topic were gathered from books, research
papers, articles and websites.
