Even 9-year-olds are taking drugs: Report

NEW DELHI: Published close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to fight drug abuse and focus on ex-addicts' rehabilitation, a special report by Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights has highlighted how children as young as nine years are falling victim to substance abuse.
Titled 'mental health care of children', the DCPCR special report is a first-of-its-kind compilation by the government of data drawn from various studies and surveys on mental health problems.It delivers a broad framework to effectively address the mental health needs of children in distress. Abuse of drugs is increasing among children in India while the age of onset is decreasing, says the report.
Users mostly begin the habit with consumption of licit or authorized substances such as tobacco and alcohol, also known as 'gateway substances'. DCPCR notes "use of substances is high in some categories of population such as street children". "Substance use rates of 40-80% are reported in various small scale studies on street children carried out in various cities-Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Mumbai-and railway platforms from Delhi to Bhopal in the last 10-15 years," the report states. Most street children using substances are school dropouts "who usually work up to eight hours a day to support their drug habit".
Data from National Family Health Survey 2006 reports alcohol use among young people-11% boys and 1% girls (aged 15-19 years)-in the general population. Adolescents constitute only 5% of substance users seeking treatment as most do so only after about five years of drug use. There is lack of availability of systematic national statistics on substance use among children and adolescents save a few brief reports on local and regional use, the DCPCR report says.

Curiosity is the main reason behind starting substance use followed by peer pressure and depression and stress, hence early identification is critical. There is a dearth of guidelines for school authorities for handling drug use among adolescents. "Substance use disorders are common among school-going children. The most common reaction of schools: denial, informing parents, punishment, suspension from school and, in some cases, counselling or referral for treatment," it is stated.
It is suggested that schools must ensure there is no substance use in and around their premises. No student should be allowed to leave during school hours. The child should be guided to avail counselling and treatment.
Explaining that the DCPCR report is an attempt to address the varying mental health care needs of children facing challenges including substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse and disability, the Commission's chairperson Arun Mathur said, "The report has analyzed the mental health problems of children in different settings besides the roles of the family, professional services and other caregivers." To put together this report, a DCPCR committee chaired by Dr Sarita Sarangi drew upon the expertise of renowned specialists from AIIMS, IHBAS, RML, the state's women and child development department and voluntary organization specializing in mental health, Manas Foundation.