The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed every year on June 26, since its inception in 1989.
According to observers, the menace of drug trafficking and substance abuse has increased considerably in major cities and settlements across the state of Uttarakhand.
With a number of higher education institutions coming up in Dehradun, the resulting increase in the number of youngsters living away from their parents and families has also increased the risk of youngsters falling prey to substance abuse. A college student who was able to quit substance abuse some months back said, “To distract myself from the boredom, I started consuming alcohol and marijuana in 2018. I saw many around me doing it. It is hard to quit, it requires commitment but we decided and were able to quit.” Doctor Saurabh Malhotra who also counsels patients in a rehabilitation centre said, “Addiction signifies physical dependency and mental obsession. In Dehradun, people from the age of 10 to 80 years consume substances out of which 50 per cent are alcoholic and rest 50 per cent consume cannabis, opioids, smack, prescription medicines and inhalents.”
About the effects of substance abuse he said, “It affects the entire body, in some ways affecting the brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and gastro intestinal system.” He suggested good rehabilitation centres and non-profits like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
Yogesh Dobhal who provides counselling at Nijaat rehabilitation centre says youngsters are prone to consuming drugs more as compared to adults. Explaining the rehabilitation process he says, “First, the detoxification is done to deal with withdrawals such as insomnia, excess sweating, fever and hallucinations and after a week, classes are arranged for them including physical and mental exercises along with therapies.”
He further opined that awareness plays a major role in prevention of substance abuse. Counsellors should be appointed in schools and hospitals to monitor any mental issues, he added.