More than half of the drug addicts, registered with drug de-addiction centres in Ambala are in the age group of 18 to 30 years, reveals a data of District Health department. The data was compiled over a period of 15 years.
The shocking data also revealed that most of these addicts were introduced to drugs during their college days, which clearly shows that education in these institution has taken a back seat and many education centres has become drug heavens. Madhu Kaushik, counsellor at one of the de-addiction centres said that, drugs like opium, smack, poppy husk, proxivan capsules and lemitol tablets are abused by the addicts. Alcohol was found to be common and over-the-counter drugs has taken the city in its grip.
Around 75 per cent of the addicts who reach the de-addiction centres are in poor health and many of them are not able to talk properly, due to the harm meted out to them by the drugs. “Most of these addicts are from middle and lower income groups. The mounting social pressure and easy availability of drugs has got them in the clutch of drug abuse,” added Kaushik.