Drug abuse among city children a growing concern

After the Punjab state government launched ‘Operation Clean’, drug abuse has become a growing concern for many citizens in the country. The state government claims that over 27,000 arrests have been made. While the condition of drug abuse in Delhi is not as serious as Punjab, the city does have frightening statistics.

A study conducted by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) on Substance Abuse by Children has highlighted the frightening rise of drug abuse amongst children. This study found that 

100 per cent of the children in conflict with the law were drug abusers, 95.5 per cent of them staying in child care institutions were on drugs and 93 per cent of street children consumed narcotics.

According to experts, drug abuse should not just be attributed to only hard drugs but should extend to alcohol abuse as well. A senior official from National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) stated that around 45,000 patients across the country get admitted for rehabilitation every year.

Talking about drug abuse in Delhi, Dr Nimesh Desai, a senior psychiatrist and Director Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences said: “I would not rate the situation of drug abuse in Delhi as that alarming but it is a big challenge.” Dr Desai also furthered mentioned that over 20 people visit the IHBAS every week, in an attempt to get over the addiction.

“Keeping in mind the extent to which these drugs are abused, there must be an effective vigilance on the sale and usage of prescriptive drugs,” Dr Desai added. Prescription drugs are available quite easily and buying them over the counter is not a challenge in Delhi. Alprax, Diazepam, spasmo-proxyvon and Corex are amongst the most abused prescription drugs in the city.

The social stigma associated with drugs also result in a reinforcement of the addiction, especially amongst children. Pradyut Chakravarty, a senior counselor of a drug rehabilitation centre says: “There has to be an effective rehabilitation programme so that the patients do not follow the same path.”