Zahida Maqbool
Kashmir ,a paradise on earth is now showing unprecedented rise in the number of drug addicts both male and female . While our youth are in treacherous grip of drug addiction , the accessibility to charas, heroin, sleeping pills, boot-polish, diluter, alcohol, hash oil, opium, morphine, diazepam, inhalants, brown sugar ,cigarette etc goes uncontrolled. Our youth are becoming drug addicts in large nos and severe health complications found common among youth include kidney/liver failure, mental disorders like psychotic behaviors, schizophrenia, psychological and social problems ,Accidents etc. Apart from this we are leading towards a bleak future.Kashmir ,the one of the biggest zones of the world is now grappling with another challenge of drug addiction .I remember when I was a student of 3rd year Nursing at SKIMS Soura , posted for psychiatric nursing clinical duties at drug de -addiction center Srinagar. There I have come across shocking stories of addiction during my practical hours and I will share a bit of one story .We as students have to do a case study on patient care and my case was a well qualified 27 years old man with the history of multiple drug addiction. He used to spend all money on drugs. I asked him he started it ? “I was never an addict in school or college, one of my friend gave me a cigarette for relieving my anxiety as I was having some family issue and our end term exams were approaching and this is the way it started from inhalants to injectable” he said ,adding that “Tobacco smoking is a gateway to drug abuse “. When first time my parents came to know about it ,I was ashamed and embarrassed if I were not be treated as culprit but a victim then by my parents or nears, I might have come out from this terrifying illness earlier. He in front of his parents told me (pointing towards his father who was there with him ) Don’t waste their time and money as they think I will be OK, after they get me admitted in this center ,but they don’t know once I get discharged here I will start it again because I tried earlier also to give it up but stronger, addiction causes powerful cravings and compulsion to use of drugs. But it is possible to recover, don’t be hopeless no matter you have failed before, I said. He replied I can’t help myself at the moment once I find the same situation/ place/crowd .Remove reminders of addiction from every place ,I said . His answer was shocking to me ,SHOW ME ANY PLACE IN KASHMIR WHERE THERE IS NO ADDICTION, for me as an addict a small prick or stimulus is enough to fall a prey to it again, we have been in this we know what you don’t know ,every place every situation is a reminder for me. Don’t you feel bad about your situation, about how much your parents are worried. He replied with tears oozing out from his eyes ,I feel it worse ,but I can’t help it out ! You are not an addict you can’t understand things .NEARIV HEZZ PANAS ,MAE HAEZ KREV WAQT ZAYAI, UMAN TE WAENIV (pointing towards his father) Don’t waste your time, I will do it again convey this to my father also. There are many reasons for drug addiction in our youth like —
peer pressure.
Easy availability /access to drugs.
Lack of awareness.
living in a conflict zone.
stressed life.
sometimes Domestic issues.
unemployment.
curiosity to entertain.
Lack of parental attention or supervision . Parents appear too harsh to teenagers, they find difficult to communicate with them.
Lack of family involvement.
Risk taking behaviors.
Bad company
social isolation
Broken families
Excessive pocket money by parents
fashion.
stress /Anxiety etc.
Drug addicts are at a high risk of falling again as they do start earlier likely means they lose control over its use again, they need our support ,care and love. Every single individual of Kashmir must realise that it is the core responsibility of all of us to break the chain and combat this menace .
Combating this menace is the need of hour, we have to come out as one, unite to fight against it like –Our Educational institutions may play a vital role to combat this by promoting healthy activities. For awareness among the students about it’s bad effects launch awareness campaigns and create recreational facilities traditional institutes like madrasas, masjids may also play a positive role. In retrospective studies, recovering addicts frequently reported spirituality as an important component of their recovery efforts and to be helpful in maintaining changes made during treatment (Flynn, Joe, Broome, Simpson, and Brown, 2003a, 2003b; Koski-Jannes and Turner, 1999).Length of sobriety has also been positively associated with spirituality (Carter, 1998; Poage, Ketzenberger, and Olson, 2004).Counseling to family to be supportive to users, instead of scolding or harsh behavior treat them with love , care and patience. Communicate and strengthen bond with your wards , never criticize your children. When you don’t behave well or criticize your children, they stop loving you and they want someone with whom they can share feelings and finally they fall in bad company. So show them sense of belongingness as they ultimately become addicts. Methods used to keep children away from drugs are:
Heavy fine and long imprison sentence to drug peddlers, opoid cultivators.
Community programs
Upbringing child with morals & values .
Showing children skills of life
Support group meetings
Surround yourself with supportive people.
Make new friends
Monitor cravings and stick to treatment plan.
Stay away from old drug places or reminders.
Drug addicts are at a high risk of falling again as they do start earlier likely means they lose control over its use again, they need our support ,care and love. Every single individual of Kashmir must realise that it is the core responsibility of all of us to break the chain and combat this menace .
( The author is working as nursing officer at Govt Medical College & Associated Hospitals Srinagar. Views are her own) [email protected]