As we know infamous Wasseypur for its crucial killings and crimes in the city. The city is just not about that- it is darker than the killings involving drug abuse. The city has affected the youth and the young adults of the town in multifold. According to the Census of 2011, Dhanbad’s Average Literacy is 74.52% which has massively gone down in recent years.
The major reason for the downfall in the education system catering in this town is drugs, crime, and unemployment. Mohammed Sameer (name changed), an English graduation student from the Wasseypur town, says “I have opted for distance education to pursue English Literature out of laziness. Here, colleges do not have much to offer anyway.”
There are multiple students like Sameer in this town who drop out of school or do not go to college at all. As the environment of the town, Wasseypur sounds toxic for the future endeavours of the brilliant minds who couldn’t attend college for their own reasons. The reasons and possibilities among the teens of this town are multiple- Alprazolam, Codeine (Cough syrup), Heroin, Weed, Hash and other types of Opiates.
If you dig down why are the teenagers and young adults are consuming these drugs, the reasons are simpler than they look from the outside- the drug culture. All the above-mentioned drugs are easily available in the town at nominal prices.
Weed is common among all age groups as it is available at the utmost cheap prices. It is just not the price of the Weed which needs to be considered in this scenario but also the availability of the same. Weed is being sold in the Bastis which are located in the outskirts of the town Wasseypur. You can find weed in certain Kirana Stores. You can buy it at prices ranging from Rupees 20 to as much as you want.
There are also drug spots famous among the addicts. They are commonly known as ‘Ek Number, chaar Number, Bhoot Room, Laal Bangla and so on.’ These spots are mostly abandoned buildings and houses on-going under construction. However, if you dig deep you will find the economical differences among the druggies. There are plenty of young adults and suburban kids who do not even belong to Wasseypur but come to this town to just hanging around and consume the cheap drugs.
The Police authority keeps visiting the disreputable places of the drug spots at regular intervals, but the act keeps running. People have found their own little ways to escape from the scene upon the arrival of the officials.
Dr Mili, a Psychologist, have a solution for her ailing patients. She says “We try to give our patients a hope to see life in a broader spectrum who are suffering from the drug abuse. We try to change the environment and talk to parents because they are ultimately who would change their situation. “She further adds, “The common cause of this problem is the lack of self-worth.”
Shaik Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who is a stand-up comedian and surviving bipolar dissects the relationship between drug abuse and depression. He says “Depressed person tend to get attached to using drugs just to escape the reality for a while.” However, they forget to draw the line and they get into their darkness and toxicity even more.