This is a harrowing reality to face. It is pretty difficult to believe that our youth are developing dangerous, addictive habits at such an early age, especially right under our nose. We want to believe it is just a phase. But on the other hand, there is an indisputable link between substance abuse and delinquency. Arrest, adjudication, and intervention by the juvenile justice system are eventual consequences for many youths engaged in alcohol and other drug use.
Why are teens more susceptible to drugs?
In such cases, we usually blame experimentation, or the other kids at school for our children’s early drug use. The last thing we want to come across is that our children are in danger, or that this substance use is something our sons and daughters have brought upon themselves. If we try to understand this ‘menace’ at a very basic level, we see that there are several mental health issues such as depression, developmental lags, apathy, withdrawal, and other psychosocial dysfunctions frequently linked to substance abuse among adolescents. Drug usage is always associated with a variety of negative consequences, that includes increased risk of serious drug use later in life, school failure, and poor judgment which may put teens at risk for accidents, violence, unplanned and unsafe sex, and suicide.
Switzerland has long stood out internationally for its innovative approach to the problem of drug addiction, adopting a drug policy in the early 1990s when hundreds of addicts occupied public spaces in the cities of Zurich and Bern. “Switzerland has applied a ‘four pillars’ policy: prevention, therapy, harm reduction and repression (law enforcement). The model is greatly regarded by addiction professionals and has proven effective. Since its adoption, the number of deaths resulting from drug consumption has decreased, criminality has declined, the health of addicts has vastly enhanced and open drug scenes have disappeared. I feel like if India also goes for a similar approach then we can definitely solve the problem to some extent as the important thing is to break the supply chain” added Neyaz Khalid Noor, Social activist.
If we look into our mass entertainment medium then even a few years ago, they have portrayed alcoholism in a very glamorous light & have influenced young minds with a completely wrong notion of ‘Being Cool’. Substance addiction not only spoils but also destroys a life which directly means it is a curse for any person. As we all, youngsters are innocent and they need the right guidance at their homes and schools. Parents, teachers and elders should always be empathetic and communicative with the youngsters so that they can easily talk out their issues and feelings, all they need is a good listener and a guide who can hold their hands and show them the right path. If the youngsters feel protected and they know that they have some trustworthy people in their lives with whom they can freely express their feelings and problems then there is no scope for any wrong way to intervene in their minds and life.
