Addiction and substance abuse are at an all-time high among youth in the city, finds

high that pulls you down
Addiction and substance abuse are at an all-time high among youth in the city, finds
Debasmita Ghosh


Arecent study by the World Health Organisation revealed that about 10 per cent of the world population suffers from addiction to either alcohol or drugs. What’s more worrying is that in poorer countries like India which seem to be the worst affected, people getting initiated to liquor has come down to 20 years in 2008, as compared to 28 years in the 80s, as per the latest study by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS). Busting the myth that only major metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore account for this disturbing statistics, addiction centres in Hyderabad report about 60 to 70 per cent rise in the number of substance addiction cases over the last five years. Apparently around 10 to 15 per cent of youngsters in the age group of 15 to 30 years are affected in the city.
Rising numbers
Surveys apart, the number of de-addiction centres mushrooming across the city is already proof to the appaling scenario. “The rise in the number of cases among youngsters is about 11 to 18 per cent. Actually there is a 40 per cent annual increase in the number of counselling enquiries here which in itself speaks of the peaking number of affected individuals,” says Rahul Luther, executive trustee, Hope Trust, a rehabilitation and research centre. Elaborating on the nature of addiction, Shravan, senior counsellor at Sreenidhi Foundation, a de-addiction centre, says, “It’s not just the wealthy people who nurture such expensive habits; even daily wage workers are falling prey. While the poorer lot is hooked to grass and marijuana, richer ones are taking up designer stuff like Ecstasy.” K Panduranga Chary, sociologist and senior counsellor at Jagriti deaddiction and rehabilitation centre, says “In addition to 10 to 12 inpatients who undergo the various treatment and counselling programs at our centre, at least 15 people turn up at the out patient section every day; most of them are less than 30 years old.”
Counsellors however take a positive view of the rising numbers at their centres, insisting that it indicates that youngsters as well as their families are more aware of solutions and are willing to seek help in freeing themselves of addictive practices. However, general physicians are not so optimistic; they warn that this apparent awareness could be just a myth with actual numbers being far higher than reported. “The figures might seem to be only 10-15 per cent of youngsters in town, but most of the affected people actually don’t come out in the open either because of social taboos or because their families do not even realise their children are hooked on to drugs,” says Dr Aftab Ahmed, consultant physician, Apollo hospital. Some patients come with generic complaints like insomnia, stomach ache or other physical discomfort; only an in-depth examination of the case history reveals the person has been on drugs; even after this some patients deny doing drugs.
Grounds of terror
The numbers are baffling but the causes are not, say counsellors. Right from an increased flow of disposable income amongst youngsters, to a penchant for experimenting with ‘exciting’ stuff, reasons are aplenty. What starts off as an experiment or an attempt to be in vogue ends up as an addiction. The Alcohol & Drug Information Centre, India recently reported that 14 per cent of the alcohol and drug consumption population is fully literate and below 21 years of age. So they cannot plead ignorance, they are getting into it quite consciously. Changing work patterns and attendant work-related stress factors are other oft-cited reasons for dependence on drugs as an escape route from present reality.
Dr Ahmed says, “These high figures comprise mostly young earners and students who have come from outside the city. They are adventurous and are far away from a family that monitors their activities. It’s certainly a case of misused freedom.” Only constant vigilance on youngsters on and off college campuses, work places, pubs, discos and other hangouts can curb the menace, he recommends.
Easy availability
However, more than individual checks, it’s probably the easy availability of drugs that should be put under the scanner. With addictive drugs like Calmpose available over the counters and popular ones like marijuana (ganja) being grown and sold openly in several districts of the State, it’s futile to blame just the youngsters. More expensive designer products and similar hallucinogenic drugs are also available through actively functioning social networks and pubs sprouting all over the city.
Police authorities however refuse to accept this state of affairs. They do not find the figures alarming enough and so raids on possible venues aren’t currently on their priority list.
“It’s mostly the elite crowd who throngs to theses pubs and they have their own way of getting substances. It’s difficult to tab such individual behaviour. We can’t go and check every pub and restaurant for what they are serving. We are doing our bit. If the public or the de-addiction centres are noticing a serious increase in such cases they should approach us. The blame game can continue forever but cooperation can definitely lead to some solution,” says city police commissioner Prasada Rao.
Authorities concerned may be doing their bit, but that’s probably not enough. So say the figures that are gradually turning Hyderabad into an unsafe, exploitative city.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
When 19-year-old Rohit began demanding higher pocket money and shied away from family gatherings, preferring to be left alone, his parents assumed that he was either having an affair or was growing unsocial like so many others of his age. It was only one night when Rohit broke into severe depression and stomach ache that they realised something was wrong. A few days later, doctors diagnosed him as a case of drug addiction. Rohit did get rehabilitated after therapy, counselling and family support but many others go unnoticed due to wrong diagnosis or lack of family support.
Regular drug abuse can result in various ill effects ranging from psychiatric disorders, attitudinal changes and physical discomfort like liver problems, lung infections etc. An immediate consequence of this could be chronic disorientation resulting in accidents but it also ends up affecting one’s financial status, career and relationships.
ROLE OF FAMILY
It pays to know what the tell-tale symptoms are, say experts. “It’s a bit difficult to know when someone is on drugs because in a normal family, nobody even suspects. But hallucinogenic drugs make one so dependent that when one doesn’t get them, withdrawal symptoms come out in the open. Family members need to identify such symptoms,” suggests Dr Ahmed. Common withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, irritability, insomnia, depression and similar unprecedented attitudinal changes. Behavioural changes include erratic behaviour like excessive expenditure, abnormal increase or decrease in appetite, sudden pattern of lying to family, preference for being alone or spending too much time in the bathroom, avoiding family gatherings and even friends.
On a lighter note, doctors and counsellors think that it is probably justified for parents to be a little nosy about what their children are doing. They needn’t turn into Sherlock Holmes or suspect every move, but they could find ways to keep a tab on the youngster’s activities and acquaintances - where they are hanging out, with whom they are freaking out, why they are abnormally late, what are their expenditure patterns etc. Youngsters may resist this, but it’s a case of ‘better safe than sorry’ say doctors.
REAL SUPPORT
The real test however begins once addiction is detected. “Family support is required the most when the addict is kept off drugs and displays withdrawal symptoms. It’s very important to motivate them to stay off. Do not get judgmental or shun them at this stage,” recommends Dr Ahmed. Ranging from traditional methods like psychotherapy, individual counselling, group counselling, family counselling and yoga, to other recent innovative techniques, rehabilitation programmes are helping people come clean. For instance, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meets up in the evenings throughout the week to discuss the experiences of members who are all battling alcohol addiction. “We do not employ any other therapy; discussions among members motivate us well enough because those who have been through the problem understand it best and help other members kick the habit,” says Rahul, a AA member.