Increasing Drug Abuse Among Youth

Symptoms And Solutions

We have been experiencing an alarming increase of drug abuse among the youngsters in recent years. Every now and then we read in the newspapers that teens are being held for consuming drugs and most of them are usually aged between 17-20. But the main question arises that why the Indian society is experiencing such a dilemma where more of the teenagers and youths are involved in unethical and unproductive activities like substance or drug abuse.

The youths are topping the charts for the wrong reasons this time around. Recently many college-going boys and girls were hauled up by the police involved in the case of drug consumption in a rave party. The alarming rate of drug abuse has always been a problem and especially the increase of drug abuse among youngsters has had detrimental effects on the society.

What leads to drug addiction?

Pressure of studies on students might be one of the few cases which results in substance abuse among the youngsters. The educational system nowadays is very competitive and lacks flexibility with lakhs of students appearing for few thousand seats. Again there is always a parental burden which adds to the pressure of making it big academically.

Personal and family problems also leads to drug abuse among youngsters who fail to cope up with the ever-growing family and personal problems. Workplace pressure and issues with the colleagues results in workplace deviance which later results in detrimental effects on the individual.

The adolescence situation is often the cause of such unproductive activities. The friend’s circle in which a young individual stays also influences his/her activities. A boy/girl who has a company of friends who are into drugs and alcohol tends to repeat the same; an attempt to be an active member of the peer group which often results in addiction of the same leading to many unproductive activities in future of the youngsters.

It might begin with experimenting. A friend or your loved one’s must have tried it once out of curiosity because of friends or just to cope up with a problem. In the early stages, one might really find it helpful to erase some problems or make one’s life better, which leads to more and more consumption of drugs. But as addiction reaches a step further, it becomes more of a need rather than just a problem solver. Even for simple petty issues which can be solved will result in drug abuse because one is so used to it that without consumption of the same, one just cannot think of anything.

These are some the few common causes which has resulted in the increase of drug abuse among the youngsters immensely.

Common symptoms that parents/family members should look out for:

Although there are different types of drugs, but the effects and the symptoms are more or less the same, irrespective of the kind of drug consumed. Some of the common signs which indicates that an individual is engaged with the process of drug abuse.

·         Neglecting responsibilities at workplace, school, colleges or at home like skipping your tuition classes, low performance academically and staying away or alone for most of the time.

·         It results in indifferences in relationships of an individual such as fights with your family members or your partner, losing a good old friend etc.

·         Change in behavioral attitude such as not being the same person when being with friends or family or partner.

·         Losing temper easily and getting into nasty things for petty issues.

·         Frequently getting into fights, accidents and illegal activities.

·         Lack of motivation, feeling lethargic.

·         Anxiety and Irritation.

·          Sudden Loss of appetite and weight. Loss of sleep patterns.

How can one stop the addiction to lead a normal peaceful life?

Half the problem is resolved when one shows the desire to give up addiction. One must speak up about his/her problem to someone who would understand and try to get him/her out of the problem. One may try to put restrictions on oneself to stop the drug abuse, rely on self help programs, but without support, it would be really difficult to put an end to it. Support might come from:

·         Family Members

·         Friends

·         Doctors or counselors

·         People who had the same problem but recovered.

Support from family members is a must as they are the closest source to the individual. Family should support their child to understand what he/she is going through and what compelled them to take such a risky step. Parents should try to motivate their children and understand what they really want in life. Every child is different from the other and parents should really try to understand their children’s expectation to avoid any cases related to alcohol or drug abuse.

Addiction and Youth

SUMMARY:

#  Children with family history of addiction or mental health problems are more likely to develop an addiction.

#  Adolescent brains are not fully developed, and therefore are at higher risk for developing an addiction.

#  Early intervention is key.

Getting help for your child right away is the most important thing you can do to reduce their risk of developing an addiction.   The vast majority of people who suffer from an addiction encounter problems when they are teenagers.  Ninety-five percent of people with an addiction start using drugs or alcohol before they are 20 years old.

RISK FACTORS

#  Children who have significant mood or behavior problems, such as ADHD, depression or anxiety are at a higher risk for developing drug and alcohol problems.

#  A family history of addiction increases the risk that a child will develop an addiction as well.  Children who have a parent with alcoholism are four times more likely to be an alcoholic.

#  If an older child begins drinking a lot, younger siblings are more likely to do so as well.

#  Children who have suffered emotional, physical, or psychological abuse are at a higher risk for developing an addiction.

WARNING SIGNS

The most obvious indications of drug or alcohol abuse are signs of intoxication, smelling alcohol or drugs on their breath or clothing, or finding alcohol, drugs, or drug paraphernalia.  Changes in your child’s previous behavior can be another important sign:

§  School performance such as decline in grades, decreased motivation, lack of interest in school and other playing activities, or skipping classes.

§  Personal habits such as sleeping much more , change in activity level, increase or decrease in appetite, or hygiene.

§  Behavior and/or mood changes such as increased irritability, aggression, disregard for rules, mood swings, depression, decreased motivation, expressing suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

§  Decreased involvement in positive social activities such as team sports or school activities, and/or loss of interest in a favorite hobby.

§  Association with a new peer group, gang involvement, or legal problems.

SUBSTANCE USE AND THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN

# The adolescent brain is different from that of an adult which leads them to behaviors that put them at much higher risk.  Early intervention upon drug and alcohol use is crucial to ensure healthy adolescent brain development.

# The part of the brain that is located above the eyes, the brain’s “stop system” is responsible for controlling impulsive behaviors.  It weighs the consequences of actions so that a person can make rational decisions.

#  This part of the brain is one of the last parts to fully develop, and doesn’t reach maturity until the age of 25. Therefore, adolescents lack the wiring in their brains to reconsider behaviors that are too risky.

#  Drugs and alcohol further impair a person’s ability to make decisions.  Combining these chemicals with an adolescent brain that is not able to weigh consequences can be harmful.

#  Late adolescence, before the brain is fully matured, is the peak time for developing a dependence to these chemicals.

# Heavy drug and alcohol use during times of critical brain development may cause permanent changes in the way the brain works and responds to rewards and consequences.

#  Therefore, it is critical to address a developing substance use problem as early as possible.

WHAT CAN you DO?

# It is not your fault that your child may have a problem, but you can get them help so their problems do not result in something more serious. 

Here are a few things you can do to reduce the risk:

§  Be an involved parent—Research shows that parental support, monitoring and involvement in a child’s life is an important protective factor against adolescent drug and alcohol use.  Involvement in a child’s school reduces behavioral and academic problems and also helps parents know their children’s friends and their friends’ parents.  This helps parents connect and network with other parents in monitoring their own children’s activities as well as those of their peer group.

§  Open and honest communication—Open, honest, and respectful family discussions about behavioral expectations and consequences can reduce the risk of adolescent drug and alcohol use.  These conversations should include attitudes and family rules about drugs and alcohol.

§  Get the help you need—The majority of us have had a family member or a close friend who suffers from addiction.  You may be suffering yourself.  When this happens it is important to get professional help.

§  Early access to help—Early evaluation and treatment can help reduce the risk of your child developing more serious problems.

If there is a teen or child in your life that you are concerned about, please call us today at 91-9914420756 or 9814420756 to get them the help they need.

Drug epidemic leaves Punjab in Danger.

From Ferozepur to Maqboolpura, a locality in Amritsar where most families have lost their men to drugs, the malaise of substance abuse is shredding Punjab’s social fabric and no one seems to know where a solution lies.

For rajbir kaur, who lost her husband to drug addiction about 10 years ago, life is very hard for her. After his death, she struggled to bring up her only son by washing people’s clothes and utensils, little knowing that another tragedy waited round the corner. Her son Gurdip Singh, who was in his twenties, died following drug abuse related complications last year. “I have nowhere to go now. My son was my only hope and he too has met the same fate as his father,” wails Kaur, who is illiterate.

After bearing the brunt of terrorism for over a decade, Punjab is today battling the more dangerous enemy i.e. Drug Addiction.

Falling on the drug route that begins in the poppy fields of Afghanistan—which produces 90 per cent of the world’s opiate—easy access to narcotics compounds the problem.

From heroin and opium to barbiturates, cough syrup and alcohol, everything is available freely.

A survey by a government department late last year suggested that as many as 67 percent of rural households in Punjab had at least one drug addict in the family. Worse, there is at least two death due to drug overdose each week.

It also revealed that most drug addicts belong to the 16 to35 age group, indicating the high vulnerability of young people in the border belt.

Till recently, the impact of crack and smack had been more evident in the border areas where unemployment and poor educational standards are the norm, but its spread to other areas now has meant the state is sitting on a proverbial time bomb.

A 14-year-old’s casual observation brings home the grim truth. “No one in our school told us that substance abuse is harmful. In fact, most of our teachers consume postt (heroin derivative), alcohol, tobacco and nicotine,” says a school-goer from the remote border village in Amritsar, his very nonchalance revealing how deep the rot runs.

In Tarn Taran, more than half the youth are into smack, herion and injectable abuse. Needless to say, unemployment is high and education has long taken a backseat. Some village elders claim they have fallen into the abuse due to extreme frustration as they failed to find jobs after completing their matriculation.

On the other end of the economic spectrum, a Practising Dentist in Amritsar had to go through the agony of divorce and losing custody of his only son because he could not give up Substance Abuse.

In the border areas of Punjab, 44.3 per cent of drug addicts are less than 25 years old and most are illiterate. According to a study by the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC), around 65 per cent of the addicts “DO” drugs twice a day.

Dr Rana Ranbir Singh who runs a De-Addiction Centre at Civil Hospital, Tarn Taran says he treats more than 50 patients per day: “It is just not the Farmers or Poor or Unemployed who are taking drugs. Even educated youths who are excellent in studies are doing it. I have got gold medallists from universities as well as national and international players coming to me for rehab.”

He adds, “They were doing well in academics, so their families never suspect anything. They get a shock when they come to know about it. Caught in the drug trap, the victims also veer towards sex addiction and gambling and betting.”

What is proving to be a bane for Punjab is its geographical proximity to Afghanistan. The drug seizure figures tell their own story. Every day, 14 cases are registered on an average and 16 people are booked under the NDPS Act in the state.

 “The heroin, which originates in the Golden Crescent in trouble-torn Afghanistan, where cultivation of poppy is a national ritual, makes its way to Punjab first through Pakistan. It then goes to Delhi and Mumbai from where it reaches the Middle East and Europe to cater to the demands abroad.

Apparently worried by the threat posed by drugs to the state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal requested Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai to check smuggling of heroin from his country to the state during a recent visit.

On its part, the government has taken some steps to combat the scourge. Principal Secretary (Health) of Punjab Vinni Mahajan says, “We are working on creating a data base of drug addicts and have commissioned a survey by ICMR and working with PGI in this regard.”

Drug Menace in Punjab