Children on drugs turn to counsellors for help

In what is coming across as a disturbing trend, school students between 10 and 16 years of age are turning to counsellors to fight drug addiction.

In what is coming across as a disturbing trend, school students between 10 and 16 years of age are turning to counsellors to fight drug addiction.

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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. 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, the students said it is easily available with ice-cream sellers and other vendors outside their schools.

“A number of students told us ice-cream vendors sold bhola goli (a mixture of bhaang) for R5 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 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 injectible 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.