Substance Abuse

Abuse as per the oxford English dictionary means “use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse”.

I came across a survey by the NGO “Department of Women and Child Development” which revealed that around 63.6% of patients coming in for treatment were introduced to drugs at an age as young as 15.

Shocking!

What could be the reason for this?

• Is it curiosity?
• The Peer pressure?
• Rebellion?
• Or just plain boredom?

The high that gets you so addicted, that you make it your best friend, this friend leaves you when the money runs out, typical back stabber isn’t it. The damage is not just limited to this it makes you lose your friends in the process.

Young adults who at times don’t have access to high quality drugs will use volatile substances easily found in corner stores such as cough syrups, pain relief ointments, glue, paint, gasoline and cleaning fluids. They try using a mix of drugs by injecting the same using syringes unaware of the HIV infection that can spread due to sharing of the syringes.

4000 young adults are affected by using substances available in the stationary stores (whitener or correction fluid, adhesive, etc.), reported a nationwide survey carried out by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

So what can we do about this issue?

NGOs and various organizations have done their bit in educating children and adolescents in school by launching campaigns like “No smoking” slogans on TV and cinemas.

Parents need to do their bit too. Instead of treating these subjects like taboos, parents should have a conversation with children to make them understand the future ill effects in a way their kids can.

The government can help these substance abusers by slowly banning various things that lead to it. Of course, the economy will slump if we ban them right away but gradually get them in place will help.

Ban them to prevent them, history speaks for itself you know marijuana et al.