Drug

Most youngsters do drugs to escape reality and for instant gratification. Despite innumerable measures to nip substance abuse in the bud, success is elusive.

Appearances are deceptive for, not all victims of drug abuse look the part — they rarely don the dazed, lost countenance of one in the vice-like grip of drugs. Nor do they stomp around in desperate, frenzied rage, even if temporarily denied their dose of ecstasy. 

Reality ‘un’ check?

Consuming drugs to satisfy one’s immediate needs, and eluding reality that has become too terrible to handle, has become a common trend. “This stems from youngsters’ need for instant gratification. The practice of persevering for a goal seems incredulous to them, and they seek refuge in drugs,” 

Most youngsters who consume drugs — especially in the case of LSD — ingest small doses, a process called ‘microdosing’. They fallaciously assume that due to the almost negligible quantity, they will not experience any adverse effects, he continues.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed on June 26

Prevention

World Health Organisation, my NGO — Drug Abuse Information Rehabilitation & Research Centre — conducted a programme where we trained students between 18-20 years and sent them to schools. There, the young trainers conducted a targeted intervention for school kids and taught them to deal with stress and peer-pressure — common denominators for drug addicts,” he elucidates.

 Counsellors should be appointed on campus to scrutinise high-risk students — essentially, those who are regular absentees or continually underperform 

 the parents bring the youngster, we will ensure that the individual understands the de-addiction process that he or she will undergo, before opting for it.

 If we can find ways to make the ‘here and now’ better, drug abuse will surely and steadily decline.”