Drug Abuse in the indian Youth

Drug Abuse in the indian Youth

As the drug epidemic continues to painstakingly seep into the country’s social and cultural aspects, drug abuse naturally trickles into our younger generation – a generation refusing to be left out.

Making up one-fifth of the population, 15-24 year-olds carry with them India’s future. The youth of our nation will eventually determine the country’s moral, political, and social persuasions. Bearing the burden of a densely populated country like India is no small task. And drug abuse does nothing to lighten the load. ¹

The youth of our nation has a massive responsibility. And as India’s potential rests delicately in their hands the drug epidemic continues to rage on the sidelines. Just as a single footballer’s attitude and actions can hurt his whole team and cause them to lose the match, illicit drugs have the potential to thwart the success of India’s future.

Teen and Young Adult Drug Use: Problems

“Educational attainment not only affects the economic potential of youth, but also their effectiveness as informed citizens, parents, and family members” says the National Family Health Survey of India (2009). ²

They bring up a good point: education is a vital part of any nation’s philosophy for success. Of course education is important, but education – like so many other ideas in life, is a two way street. If the students don’t end up doing their part in the educational process, the system can quickly backfire.

Public schooling can ironically turn into breeding grounds for addicts. In and out of the classroom, teens and young adults are influenced by the social acceptance of drugs. This lack of personal responsibility, and the general apathy surrounding the issue has filtered down to the youth – creating a normality in drug abuse.

Illicit drug use among the youth, specifically teenagers, presents an impending threat to our nation. The question: why do teens so quickly slip into drug abuse? has troubled Indian scientists and politicians for decades. The answer to impending predicament seems to be two-fold.

Why is drug abuse thriving amongst Indian Youngsters?

Two convincing theories attempt to answer this question. Each presents a viable explanation for the youth drug addiction problem in India.

Technical Approach: Based on scientific experimentation

A careful study, accomplished by a group of scientists at the university of Pittsburgh, discovered neuron activity in adolescent rats that might explain the irrationality of some teenagers and young adults.

For many youngsters, rewards are chosen before consequences are considered; the scientific study may reveal the biological root causing this propensity. Their findings offer a scientific explanation as to why adolescents continue to be more vulnerable to drug abuse, alcohol consumption, and smoking.

The research team recorded the brain-cell activity of adults and adolescents as each group performed “reward-driven tasks”. The team documented their findings, and what they discovered wasn’t surprising. The electrode recordings of the adolescent brains reacted with far greater intensity to rewards than the adult’s did.

According to one report, “A frenzy of stimulation occurred with varying intensity throughout the study along with a greater degree of disorganization in adolescent brains. The brains of adult rats, on the other hand, processed their prizes with a consistent balance of excitation and inhibition.” The lead researcher, Bita Moghaddam (professor of neuroscience), said the radical difference in brain activity provides possible physiological explanation as to why youngsters are more prone to experiment with drugs.

Practical approach: Based on peer pressure and curiosity

Usually it starts off innocently enough. Children grow older and reach the teenage and young adult stages of life. With age, the parents’ influence often diminishes, and as part of life’s natural progression, youngsters are influenced more and more by their peers.

Many detailed studies have shown the worrisome aspects of peer pressure. As one of the most powerful tools used to sway youngsters towards drug addiction – peer pressure in the area of drug abuse can begin as early as junior high.

One major youth drug addiction study declares, “In India, the majority (of addicts) became hooked on drugs after friends introduced drugs to them.” The study goes on to report that an additional 35% of subjects interviewed became addicted after trying out drugs for fun and out of curiosity.

Alcohol & Drug Abuse In India

Alcohol & Drug Abuse In India

What are the common drugs of abuse?
Common drugs in India are smoking (cigarettes, beedis) & chewing tobacco (gutkha, pan masala), alcohol, cannabis (ganja, bhang, charas), opioids (heroin, opium, injection Buprenorphine, capsule Spasmoproxyvon, cough syrups), Sedative-Hypnotics (sleeping pills, Alprazolam, Diazepam) and Inhalants (typewriter correction fluid).

Cocaine & Amphetamine (Ecstasy tablets) use is rare in India.

What are licit & illicit drugs?
Smoking & chewing tobacco and alcohol are licit (legal) drugs in most states in India. All other drugs are illicit (illegal), hence possession, use, etc. are punishable offences.

Narcotic pharmacological product use without appropriate physician’s prescription is considered illicit.

Different age limits exist for use of alcohol / tobacco products in various states of India.

In some countries all drugs (including tobacco & alcohol) are illicit, e.g. Saudi Arabia.

In some countries cannabis is a licit substance (in certain areas/districts), e.g. Denmark.

What are the socio-demographic characteristics of an average drug user?
Overall males use drugs much more than women. The pattern of use of licit drugs differs from that of illicit drugs. Licit drug use is prevalent between the ages of 16 to 60 years in all economic strata, more so in young adults. Illicit drugs are mainly used in lower & lower middle economic groups. Cocaine & Amphetamine use is rare and seen in some young adults from higher economic backgrounds.

What is the vulnerable age of slipping into DrugAbuse?
Youngsters between the ages of 16 and 21 years are most prone to initiating alcohol & drug use.

What is the natural history of Drug Abuse?
Many adolescents experiment with smoking & alcohol in their late teens. This usually occurs at parties. Some also try cannabis and rarely illicit drugs. Most of them outgrow these tendencies and move into adulthood as teetotalers. Some may continue with regular use of a single drug, e.g. cigarette smoking, or use drugs occasionally, e.g. alcohol.

Regular drug use results in several adverse consequences in the personal, social, occupational spheres of users in the 20s, 30s & 40s. Some quit intermittently and some quit for long durations. Most users usually quit drug use in their late 40s. Some may continue lifelong.

What are the medical harm associated with DrugAbuse?
Medical harm depends on type, amount, duration of drugs use, and certain protective factors.

Tobacco use is related to lung cancer (smoking), oral cancer (chewing), heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dental problems, chronic bronchitis, impotence in males & fetal defects in unborn children (in pregnant women)

Chronic alcohol use may lead to hepatitis or cirrhosis of liver, gastritis, pancreatitis , depression, impotence in males, cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, neuropathy, obesity, predispose to some cancers (mouth, gullet, liver, colon and breast) and accidents – automobiles, domestic & workplace (injury, fire, drowning). Hooch use can cause severe illness & permanent blindness.

All drugs produce harm according to the route of intake. Those drugs that are inhaled cause respiratory tract infections and may predispose to tuberculoses of lungs. Those drugs which are injected can cause infections of the veins, infection in the blood, abscesses in various internal organs & muscle, and spread blood-brone infections (e.g. Hepatitis B & C) if needles are shared between users.

Opoids & sedatives may be dangerous if overdosed. Inhalants may produce burns in mouth, nostrils, abnormal heart rhythms & sudden death.

Protective factors include good nutrition, drug use restricted to social occasions (e.g. alochol) and regular contact with treatment facility.

What are the non-medical consequences of druguse?
These are in the context of marriage, family, society, workplace, finances & the law.

Marital complications: Disapproval of drug use by the spouse, deteriorating interpersonal relationships, impotence in males, frequent fights, separation & divorce.

Familial complications: Disapproval of drug use by family members, frequent fights, embarrassing events due to intoxication.

Social complications: Misbehavior with others, loss of prestige in society & social standing, alienation, exclusion of drug user & family from social occasions by other members of the society.

Occupational complications: Irregular work habits, absenteeism, poor work output, accidents due to intoxication, misbehavior & insubordination, frequent complaints, salary deductions, loss of pay, sacking, unemployment, difficulty on re-acquiring job, frequent change of jobs.

Financial complications: Cost of drugs, and paraphernalia (syringes), transport, additional snacks, medical costs, diversion of household expenses for drug procurement, stealing money from home, selling household items for drugs, loans from family, friends, office and other sources.

Legal complications: Driving & traffic accidents, brawls during intoxicated state, arrest for possession or use of illicit drug, peddling of drug for sustaining drug use habit.

 Are there any safe limits of drug use?
Safe limit is defined only in the context of alcohol use. In developed nations, recommended 'safe' limits for drinking alcohol are:

Men: less than 21 units per week (no more than 4 units in any one day)
Women: less than 14 units per week (no more than 3 units in any one day)
One unit of alcohol is one small measure (30 ml) of spirits (whisky / rum /brandy / vodka).

Use of any amount of tobacco or any other drug is considered harmful.

What are the signs of hidden drug use?

This occurs mainly in the initial phases of drug use, and also in extremely conservative societies.

Common signs include spending excessive time alone in one’s room, bathroom, or outdoors; returning home with unsteady gait, redness of eyes, poor hygiene, decreased attendance & functioning at school / work, asking for more pocket money, borrowing money from others, stealing money or other items from home, making excuses regarding money and time spent.

What the treatments available for Drug Abuse?

Medications & counseling are the main modalities of treatment of Drug Abuse. Minor levels of drug use are dealt with counseling alone. For higher grades of drug use a combination of medications & counseling is used. Definite treatments are available for alcohol, smoking and opoids (heroin, injections, cough syrup, etc.).

Who provides treatment of Drug Abuse & where?

Psychiatrists are formally trained in Alcohol, Smoking, and Drug Addiction Treatment. Some General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) are also trained by the Govt. of India in Drug Abuse treatments. Treatment is available in Psychiatry Departments of Government Hospitals, NGOs & by psychiatrists in the private sector.

What is the role of rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation involves imparting vocational training so that a drug user can be meaningfully employed and remain off drugs in the society. It is required in a small number of drug users, especially those who have been using for several years & have lost the habit of working.

What is the role of involuntary admission?

Forced admission for Drug Abuse is not legally permissible. If a drug user additionally suffers from a psychiatric illness, then involuntary admission is possible if the same is certified & the patient is admitted under care of a psychiatrist.

What are the phases of treatment?

An initial intensive phase of medical treatment (detoxification) lasts 2-3 weeks. It provides relief of the distressing symptoms (withdrawal symptoms) occurring after stopping drug use. The second phase is called the maintenance phase and it usually of one year duration. It involves medications & counseling and aims at preventing the patient from reusing drugs.

What is the adequate duration of treatment?

For smoking & chewing tobacco, Sedative-Hypnotic use and inhalant use, a treatment period of 3-6 months is required.

For alcohol and opoids (heroin, injections, cough syrup, etc.), treatment of one year is usually required.

What is the role of family members / spouse / parents?

The role of family members should be to detect drug use, to encourage to initiate & maintain in treatment and to look out for signs of re-use (relapse). Family members need to understand that drug abuse is currently considered as a Medical Disorder.

What are the steps for prevention of Drug Abuse?

Increasing awareness of the common drugs of abuse, their medical, social & occupational costs, in youngsters, parents and teachers.

What are the legal aspects of Drug Abuse?

Alcohol and tobacco use is permissible in adults with specific age limits. Production, transport, possession and use of all other drugs is under the purview of NDPS Act of 1987 and punishable with imprisonment of 6 months &/or fine of Rs.10,000/-. Penalties increase with increase in amounts, repeat offences.

Is there some softer options for first time offenders?

If a person has been arrested for drug use, a provision in the NDPS Act can exempt him/her if he/she is the first time offender & agrees to undergo treatment of Drug Abuse at a government facility.

What is the message for youngsters?

Be aware, refuse drugs the first time & every time, help is available and do not hesitate to ask for help.

REMEMBERING MY FATHER ON MY BIRTHDAY

Remembering my father on MY BIRTHDAY

 Its  my birthday today i.e. MAY 26. I have now lived 26 vibrant years. Today is also an especially DIFFICULT DAY FOR ME   BECAUSE   JUST  3 MONTHS  AGO MY FATHER PASSED AWAY AND I WAS HOLDING MY DAD’S HAND WHEN HE PASSED AWAY. I CAN’T BEGIN TO CONVEY WHAT THAT LOSS HAS FELT LIKE……….

MY DAD WAS, AND   STILL IS  MY “HERO”. I WAS , AND ALWAYS WILL BE HIS LOVABLE SON. EVERY YEAR OF MY LIFE, HE WAS FIRST PERSON TO WISH ME “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”. TODAY THAT IS DIFFERENT.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT HE IS THE REASON  I KNOW “GOD “IS REAL ,HE IS THE REASON I CAN WALK AROUND THIS SMALL SPINNING EARTH AND KNOW THAT I AM LOVED AND I HAVE A UNIQUE PLACE IN IT, AND HE IS THE REASON LIFE WILL NEVER BE SAME WITHOUT HIM.

 REMEMBERING AND HONORING THE PERSON WHO HELPED MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE.-  MY DEAREST DAD

                                             DR.MOHIINDER SINGH

 ALSO ,THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE LOVED ON US SO INCREDIBLY WELL IN PAST 3 MONTHS!!!! THE PRAYERS,THROUGHTS OF LOVE,CARDS,CALLS,TEXTS,RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS HAVE BEEN MEDICINAL TO MY HEART,AS WELL AS MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER AND DEAREST SISTER SIMAR. I LOVE YOU ALL.I DON’T THINK THAT THE ACHE OF LOSING MY DEAR  SWEET FATHER WILL EVER GO AWAY.AND,I THINK THAT I HAVE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL-“ KNOWING I  HAVE A HEART FILLED WITH  AND CAPABLE OF REAL ,LASTING LOVE THAT NOT EVEN DEATH CAN KILL:”

Dedicated to the Best Doctor in the world –MY DAD!

       Dedicated to My DAD-                    Dr. Mohinder Singh

This Blog is Dedicated to the Best Doctor in the world –MY DAD!

Simply the best because he was my Dad. He possessed rare and sterling qualities of head and heart besides a very high degree of professional skill and intellectual ability. He was very kind hearted, loveable, compassionate, eversmiling, unassuming and extremely helpful- an embodiment of human virtues and social service.

I would like to express the emotions in MY DAD’s sweet memory

Every moments spent with you are best moments of our life………

You were a very strong and kind man

In our hearts we knew you were true

You had this sense of humor

That made us laugh when we felt blue

You always had the right answers

You knew just what to do

You're a loving and giving person

We're so honored that we  are part of  you

Now you have gone and left us

We don't know what to do

Our hearts have all been torn

We're feeling quite sad and blue

We'll remember your sense 0f humor

And what you taught us to do

But we're going to miss you a lot……………

                

PICTURES OF PARTICIPATION IN REPUBLIC DAY PARADE AT TARN TARAN AND EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT DRUG ADDICTION

Pics of seminar to Educate People on Substance Abuse Prevention in TARN TARAN

TEENAGE DRUG ABUSE

Teenage Drug Abuse

Drugs and Teens: What can parents do?

It’s every parent’s nightmare facing teen drug addiction and it is becoming very common in Punjab where children from 15-25 age group are suffering from addiction. As children enter their teenage they begin to separate from parents, explore the adult world and fashion an image of their place in it.   

The SIGNS of DRUG and AlCOHOL ABUSE in TEENAGERS

As children enter their teen years it is natural for them to want to break away from the family. When kids go to extremes to make sure you don’t know who they’re with or what they are doing, the red flag should go up. When they become secretive and guarded, when their privacy at home prevents your open access to them, look for something beyond mere adolescent rebellion.

The more educated parents are about drug and alcohol abuse, the easier it will be to quickly intervene and help your teenager before the problem progress into full-blown addiction. There are physical signs of substance abuse, but it's important to remember that these signs may also indicate another problem. Different substances have different symptoms, but an illness (other than substance abuse) should never be ruled out. These symptoms along with behavioral signs, such as lying, depression, missing school, and secretive behavior, are indications of substance abuse.

 When teenagers begin to experiment with drugs at an early age they are at a higher risk for teenage drug abuse and problems associated with drugs and alcohol later in their lives. Early adolescent tobacco use is also an indication of later drug use and abuse. Because teenagers are still young and more often than not fully dependent on their parents for support, they do not see the consequences of the actions they are taking in concern to drugs. Some teenagers are able to experiment with drugs and never experience the pain and agony of teenage drug abuse either because they had a bad incident on drugs or because they never got addicted.

Some teenagers are also at a higher risk for teenage drug abuse depending upon their family history. People with a history of drug and alcohol abuse in their families can often pass down the traits for addiction to their children. Children, who are depressed, have low self-esteem or feel like outsiders are also prone to drug use and teenage drug abuse.

Communication is Essential
Communicating with teens can be a challenge, especially because they are beginning to spread their wings and desire independence from mom and dad. Stay calm.
The most common mistake parents can make is trying to force ideas and values on the defiant teenage mind.
There's a leadership responsibility that always needs to be in evidence, and parents need to be parents. However, parents need to meet their children where they are at. That means trying to understand the situation from your child’s perspective.
Teenagers will probably come up with some very wrong reasoning, seriously flawed ideas and their whole world view will likely be counter to that of their parents. But they have a NEED to be heard and respected.
It’s one thing to accept an opinion counter to your own, and it’s quite another to approve of it. Try working with your child's ideas and concepts, and have an open and non-threatening discussion about them. You can establish rules of engagement with your teen and agree that both of you are allowed to express ideas and opinions without fear of retribution.
The key is to remember that the parent needs to be the one in control. As a chaplain, I do a lot of counseling work and my approach is entirely patient-centered. They establish the themes of the conversation, but even though I am not deciding the topic, or necessarily directing the conversation, I am still in control.
Remember that your teenager, like a patient in a hospital, is probably going to be very myopic. He/she will see things only from their perspective.
Take a step back and see the entire situation. Go with their feelings, their concerns and walk down their path. Share the experience.
Teenage Brain and the Teenage brain on Drugs
I think I’m like most people who used to believe that the brain matured at the end of childhood. Wow, how could I have been that wrong? Do parents know this? Probably not. The brain actually doesn’t mature until a person reaches 24 years of age.

The reason why this is important is that it should send a shocking warning signal to parents of teenage drug abuse and that their teenaged son or daughter is at high risk for trouble if they take drugs.
The idea of a developing brain on drugs is just, well, scary. The brain develops in sections. Picture this as being development from back to front. First to develop is the motor coordination and sensory processing in the cerebellum, in the back of the brain. Next, the nucleus accumbens, regulating motivation, kicks in. The amygdale, controlling emotions develops next. Finally the prefrontal cortex, regulating judgment is finished. Teenage drug abuse and hurt this development.
That is exactly why physical development does not correspond with mental and emotional development. Take as look at high school athletes. We see a man-child out on the field, who has the ability to score touchdowns, dunk a basketball or throw a baseball 90 miles per hour, but he is still a child. Teenage girls, who may have begun developing sexually as early as the fourth grade, are still children.
As the brain develops, we move into adulthood. If the brain is not allowed to fully develop, or that development is slowed because of teenage drug abuse, you can see that the child is in serious jeopardy of having problems.
I mentioned the physical development. Even that is not complete during the early teen years.
“Oh, but my Johnny is level headed.” Don’t count on it. Remember, the front part of the brain, which regulates judgment, is the last to develop. Bad planning and bad judgment are hallmarks of teenage existence. Teenagers like activities with high excitement and low effort. They can’t necessarily control their emotions, so the hot emotions come out quicker than the cooler ones. They are interested in experimenting and teens are known for thinking that smoking, drinking or taking drugs is “mature.” Children graduate from high school, then go off to college in the fall and all too often indulge in binge drinking and experiment with drugs.
Parents can’t raise their kids in a bubble, but they need to know what’s out there and how teenage drug abuse can impact their child’s life. If a child is not fully capable of making a good decision, parents can help them form a good plan by openly discussing drug use with them. Let this discussion be a discussion, not a lecture.
Be aware of what your kids are doing. Your son may shave, but that doesn’t make him a man. Your daughter may be 17, going on 25, but that doesn’t make her an adult. They are still children.