Sometime back our Prime Minister urged the youth of the country to desist from consuming E-Cigarette due to health-related risk factors. It was not without some reasons. The scope of intoxication and addiction has been increasing and so is the availability of multiple kinds of intoxicating and addictive items. It is also a matter of serious concern that students of different educational institutions are falling prey to addiction in one way or the other.
Various surveys say
that vulnerable adolescents and youth in the age group of 16 to
18 years generally get addicted first to Cigarettes, Tobacco, Gutka, Alcohol,
Bhang and Ganja. Then they are attracted and tempted to consume Cheras,
Cocaine, Heroin and other addictive items. For them these substances are not
meant merely for fun and enjoyment, but become their necessity. All statutory
warnings become meaningless. This situation is highly dangerous particularly
for the future of our youth. It is equally very challenging for the family/
society/country.
Why do people get addicted? It is normally observed that people fall prey to addiction due to advertisement, peer pressure, allurement and instant fun besides trying to find an escape route for their loneliness, stress, depression or other emotional setbacks.
It is needless to emphasise that due to consumption of addictive items, students, youth or individuals suffer from different diseases and also indulge in illegal and anti-social activities. To say, they harm themselves, their family, society and the country in several ways. First of all, they fail to focus on their studies or work which affects the outcome badly. Secondly, it adversely impacts their health slowly but surely and they start feeling weak and less energetic. Simultaneously, telling lies, borrowing money from friends and stealing money primarily at home start. At that moment, clever and manipulative criminals extend the so-called loving support – emotionally and initially financially as well. This is the normal trap mechanism of criminals to add the vulnerable people. Once that happens successfully, the life of the newly joined persons becomes difficult in multiple ways. Anyone can see this happening to addicted persons in their locality. You can find these stories in some national and international films as well.
Everybody must think on this
issue and ask the question as to why one should move towards this blind tunnel
of difficulty and disaster leaving the guaranteed future of living a better and
prosperous life by pursuing the studies or a positive activity with all
sincerity and hard work.
Actually, during
the critical period of adolescence when the boys and girls go through various
changes – from hormonal to situational, they are required to manage different
changes – physical, mental, emotional, social, educational etc. These are not
easy to manage successfully all the time. Remaining mentally stable and
balanced is a difficult task. During this particular period, some boys and
girls are found to deviate and enter the addiction zone where everything seems
to be cosy-rosy-joyful. In fact, this is the time where the role of guardians,
teachers and elders becomes very defining. If they can keep a close eye on
their activities; can help them manage the changes they are going through and
protect them in the best possible manner from the unscrupulous elements, and
also stand by their children emotionally and otherwise; it would be very
rewarding for the children as well as for the family.
Yes, all-out efforts must be taken by the family and friends to bring back the person out of the addiction trap, if at all someone enters that bad zone. No doubt, this requires will power and courage for all concerned. At that point of time, everyone should look forward, not backward and stop fault finding. Instead of accusing the person for indulging in such activities, the parents, elders and spouse should hold his or her hand and assure him or her of fast recovery and in fact try collectively with all sincerity towards that goal. Constant motivation and emotional support will surely work very well.
Yes, besides the
main focus of DDAC (District De-addiction Centres) of early prevention,
education, demand reduction, identification, treatment and rehabilitation
services of vulnerable persons or individuals affected by addictive substances,
it is also necessary for the concerned Law Enforcement Agencies to take
strict punitive action speedily against the peddlers, culprits and associated
criminals.
As always, I'm keen to know what you think on this subject. Hence, I request you to post your comments to share your valuable opinion. (hellomilansinha@gmail.com)
# Published in my Sunday Column of "Morning India" daily. 