Children on drugs turn to counsellors for help

NEW DELHI, July 25 -- In what is coming across as a disturbing trend, school students between 10 and 16 years of age are turning to counsellors to fight addiction to drugs and intoxicants.

The helpline Yuva, jointly run by the Delhi government's education department and the State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), receives five calls related to substance abuse on an average per day.
The helpline receives calls from students, parents as well as teachers on varied issues.
More lately, it is getting calls on substance abuse as well.
"We have been receiving at least five calls every day from school students who are finding it difficult to concentrate on studies as they have become addicted to various substances. Several of them have stopped attending classes as they are not able to concentrate for a longer period," said an education department official.
These students use thinner, correction fluid and glues, etc. According to the helpline, most students are between the age of 10 and 16 years. A number of them started using these substances two to three years back.
When asked from where they procured bhaang (a preparation from leaves and flowers (buds) of the female cannabis plant), the students said it is easily available with ice-cream sellers and other vendors outside schools.
"A number of students told us ice-cream vendors sold bhola goli (made from bhaang) for a piece. Initially, they used to feel high but now it is difficult for them to concentrate on anything if they do not have it," added the official.
According to counsellors, many students steal money from their parents to buy these substances.
Health experts warn that the use of these substances can damage the brain. "It is alarming because there is a risk of a child starting with inhalants and later moving on to injectable drugs that can have much serious effects on their health," said Dr Nimesh G Desai, director of the Delhi government-run Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS).
"We asked a few of the children to come for face-to-face counselling. They agreed but did not turn up. We wanted to refer them to the adolescence clinic to help them get de-addicted," said a counsellor.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/children-drugs-turn-counsellors-help-183000954.html

Comments

Family is exposed to second-hand smoke that adds to their indoor pollution, a risk factor for NCDs says Suneel

Suneel Vatsyayan says " In our society, tobacco is comparatively more acceptable, affordable, and available" Vinnie, Nada Health Advocate Vinnie Choudhry is a student of management, pursuing her MBA from IIM Bangalore. She graduated in Economics from the University of Delhi. She has been associated with Nada India Foundation since her school days where she participated in a Pehchaan Radio club Show which waconducted to raise drug awareness amongst young people. The following interview was conducted on phone with Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan, founder of Nada India Foundation, which has been working for prevention of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs and non-communicable diseases for 20 years now. The organisation has been instrumental in rehabilitating the lives of several families whose members were caught in the web of addiction. Vinnie - Sir, Thanks for getting on call with us. Can you tell us about how you decided about setting up Nada India Founda...

2025: Listening Deeply. 2026: Walking Forward—Together.

Young India Network for Good Health 2025: Listening Deeply. 2026: Walking Forward—Together. As we close the pages of 2025 and lean into the promise of 2026, one truth stands steady: when young people are trusted, communities breathe easier. This year belonged to youth voices—adolescents finding language for their feelings, students choosing courage over silence, and young leaders creating spaces where they belong. To every young person who stayed, spoke up, stumbled, learned, and returned— thank you . You didn’t just join a program; you co-created safe, honest spaces for well-being. The Year Youth Led the Way 2025 was dedicated to the journeys that don’t come with neat maps. We celebrated role models who walk with integrity and heart— Monica Menon , Nada Good Health Ambassador, for showing how sport, discipline, and mental strength can shape healthier lives; and Hiral , whose consistency, commitment, and confidence remind us that growth is rarely tidy—and that’s okay...

Owning Knowledge, Owning Action – My Journey from Social Work to Law through RTI and COTPA

Owning Knowledge, Owning Action – My Journey from Social Work to Law through RTI and COTPA If I had to name one thing that Nada India Foundation and Suneel Sir have permanently etched into my heart, it would be this: Ownership of Knowledge. This isn’t about collecting facts like stamps in an album. It’s about holding knowledge in your hands, understanding it deeply, making it a part of your thinking, and — most importantly — putting it into action. I first learned this lesson in my social work days, and I’ve carried it everywhere since — right into the heart of my legal journey. From Social Work to the Law Books During my undergraduate and postgraduate studies in social work, I worked on issues ranging from youth awareness to substance abuse prevention . Those days taught me that knowledge without application is like a library that’s never opened. When I transitioned into law school, I didn’t leave my social work instincts behind. I chose law as a career because it was another ...

Young India Network for Good Health

Search This Blog