Over half a million children in India use substances ranging from tobacco to heroin and pharmaceutical opioids.
India harbours 5 lakh children burdened with the disease that is substance abuse. ‘Kamlesh’ went viral for all the wrong reasons. People derived entertainment from his mannerism that portrays habitual drug usage, as evidently as the environment that he is in, reeks of marijuana or solution.
A recent government survey has lifted the veil on the grim reality of what is going on in the capital. 70,000 children in Delhi were found to be using substances ranging from tobacco to heroin and pharmaceutical opioids.
The number of children getting high has hit a new low
Specially in a young country like India, these estranged kids often leading the lives led by a destitute portrayed in Russian novels, are the torchbearers.
70,000 children in Delhi use substances ranging from tobacco to heroin and pharmaceutical opioids
Moreover, they are vulnerable, and we as a nation must always strive to secure their well-being. It was only now, in 2019, that the government realised the need to assess the problem and prevalence of substance in India. Prior to this, data was not accessible,
Children walking around sniffing or biting on handkerchiefs
While most children take to using tobacco, children using inhalants are just as common to see. Drugs are proving to be a menace and an emerging public health disaster. Sadly, it seems to have gone beyond the tipping point.
Not giving heed to the problem will only worsen the outcome. There’s a need to raise awareness and for a call to action.
Even if everyone suddenly woke up to it, we would only be able to partially restore the collateral damage that it has caused, continues to cause. Regardless, not giving heed to it now will only worsen the outcome. There’s a need to raise awareness and for a call to action.
Progress is being made towards de-addiction
To say that there is no one who’s aware of this will be not only ignorant but misleading as well. There are people who’ve decided to take charge on this front.
Organizations, NGOs and institutions like Save The Children, Society For Promotion of Youth and Masses ( SPYM) , Salaam Baalak Trust, and many more are doing there bit to alleviate the country of this problem but more importantly, working towards the furtherance of the welfare of children thereby the society as a whole.
These NGOs have bettered the lives of thousands of children and continue to work tirelessly for the cause they feel so vehemently feel for.
Introducing a group of young idealists
Of these people who taken up the task of rehabilitating and reintegrating children, are a group of highly driven youngsters working on their flagship project, Project Cigrencil. ‘Cigarette’ and ‘pencil’ come together to form the amalgamation known as Cigrencil.
The group is supervised by the OSD to the Health Minister of Delhi. Cigrencil aims to bridge the gap between prevention and rehabilitation by targeting children who come out of de-addiction centres.
Cigrencil intervenes at this stage where they help the child reintegrate back into society. At the same time they are raising awareness about drug abuse and trying to remove the stigma attached to the disease.
Thousands of children go to de-addiction centres. Most of these children go back to the same environment that helps breed their addiction.
This involves informing and educating the public through all means necessary, whether it is in person or through the use of social media. To know more about their work and to help their cause, help OUR cause, check out their Instagram & Facebook page.
Only through a holistic approach that involves the entire community, can we rid the society of this plague that gradually eats away at our well-being.
