Drug abuse is a major problem that today’s youth is facing. This addiction is making them unproductive and choking their lives, as I have seen from up close.
My high school was a typical convent where Christians had catechism and non-Christian students studied moral science. During one of the lessons, there was a mention of drug addiction and my teacher said that we should be careful and not fall into this addiction. I came to know that one of our seniors had become addicted to drugs. I was shocked. What was more shocking was that he had developed this habit when he was in high school. He was debarred from his college and his financial condition deteriorated.
In my city, there have been many reported cases of drug peddling near schools, and medical and engineering college campuses. But still, no one takes any action. Punjab is the worst-hit State in drug addiction, with almost 75% of the youth as drug addicts.
The shocking truth is that 74% of Indian families have a drug addict in their homes, some as young as 13 years old, and the oldest being above 70. There are 10 million regular cannabis users in India, and more than five million heroin consumers.
What Can We Do?
In today’s world, there is common practice of drinking alcohol and consuming drugs to show off. Peer groups also affect this behaviour drastically, as bad friends often mean bad habits.
Please report to the nearest drug rehabilitation centre if you know a drug addict. Don’t hate on them, instead, show some care and support, and help them transform. There should be more and more awareness about this problem because it’s choking our country. Stay aware and create awareness.