Substance abuse & how to tackle it among youngsters

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Substance abuse & how to tackle it among youngsters

Monday, 05 October 2020 | Dr Sona Kaushal Gupta

There has been a rise in substance abuse in recent years due to various reasons. According to the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), approximately 2.6 crore people in India have used or use opioids and more than 60 lakh people suffer from opioid use disorders.

Approximately 1.18 crore people use sedatives and inhalants and about 4.6 lakh children and 18 lakh adults need help as a result of inhalant use.

The prevalence of use is higher in children and adolescents as compared to adults. Over 8.5 lakh people inject drugs into themselves and are addicted. The most common drugs injected are Heroin (48%) and Buprenorphine (46%). About 27% of people who inject drugs admit sharing their needles with other people, risking diseases like HIV. When it comes to alcohol, about 14.6% of the total population of India is consuming alcohol and nearly six crore people suffer or need help because of harmful/dependent alcohol use.

In such a scenario, parents should always be involved in the physical and emotional growth of their children, even as they become adults.

A parent is always a parent no matter how old their children are and their guidance, motivation, understanding, bonding and love can shape the child’s future.The need of the hour is for parents to be friendly parents today. If the parent-child bonding is not strong enough the children may withdraw from you and they can be influenced by peer pressure and can be driven to drug abuse.

The role of parents and good parenting in shaping a child’s future is crucial. Children need role models to look up to as they grow up. The first interaction they have when they start growing up is usually with their parents.So parents should try to groom themselves and become the role models they would like their children to emulate. It’s the bonding which children develop with their parents which will help them become and be confident and in high self esteem while they are growing up and when they have grown up. Let your bonding with them be loving, empathetic and consistent right from an early age. This will enable them to share their concerns and worries with you, to confide in you and ask you questions which perturb them and share their fears and anxieties with you.

Happiness and education must always be given a priority in your house. It keeps children occupied and away from other bad options.Education empowers children and makes them aware of what is right and wrong. It is their gateway to a successful life ahead.But do not burden them with your expectations.Let them choose the subjects and careers of their choice.Guide them in their subject choice at school and in their career options.  Appreciate and motivate them to achieve the best at all times, accept their achievements and failures. Hobbies and sports should be encouraged in children. Ensure they follow a good lifestyle right from their childhood. A good rapport and communication with your children makes them share their secrets and resolves many conflicts and misunderstandings they may foster. Talk to them about everything—about happiness, success, failures, drug abuse, peer pressure and other subjects. Criticising, comparing, shouting, swearing or hitting children desensitises them and can make them rebellious. Hear their views too while talking of all the pros and cons.

Children must never fear you but they must learn to be relaxed with you. Be a good listener as this facilitates better bonding and understanding. Responsibilities and tasks should be shared at home while matters should be discussed democratically and their opinions should be valued too. This gives them a feeling of self worth.

Talk to children about their feelings and emotions, validate them and discuss their emotions sources and reasons. Teach them not to suppress their emotions--anger, sadness, disappointment or resentment. This can lead them to other mental health problems.

Be a good friend to your children because if children find acceptance, appreciation, love and care at home, they will never drift into bad peer pressures.

If the parents are addicted their children may suffer both during the active periods of their parents’ addiction and afterwards also. They may feelIsolated from friends and family. This can lead them to other mental health issues and may lead into addictions also. They may have a feeling of insecurity and fear of authority figures and angry individuals. They may not be able to adapt well and may have difficulty expressing and regulating their emotions and sometimes be highly judgmental and critical. They may be apprehensive and fearing abandonment from others

Friends of a child addicted to drugs often know about the situation but are confused about how to handle the situation and they may feel worried that their interference in their friend’s situation may ruin their friendship. In such cases, friends could connect with their friend’s family and tell them their worst fears about the friend’s addiction which can be an excellent way of being involved and helping.

Seeing your child suffering from addiction can be a very tormenting, guilt-ridden and heartbreaking experience for any parent.However parents realising sooner that their child needs help and start doing what is needed can make the difference between life and death for him.

If your child is suffering from an addiction, do not fall into a pattern of avoidance or guilt but try to help him or her. Talk to them but do not approach them with negativity like anger or be critical or judgmental with them. Let them know that you are here for them no matter what.Tell them of the help available and also listen to them empathetically.

A good empathetic support system is always good for both the parent and child in such cases.

Whether it is a psychiatrist, counselor, therapist or another addiction specialist, discuss your child’s addiction with such an expert and take treatment. Medicines to help detoxify the body and counsellings are of help and should be taken with proper consultation. Equip yourself with the appropriate coping skills and self-care to manage your own needs during this time- only then can you help your child recover.

(The author is a neuro psychologist & founder of a crisis helpline)

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