Today Indian teenagers are victims of drug abuse due to limited social understandings and reasonable moral standards. According to the latest statistics, more than a million teenagers are dying each year from drugs. The root cause behind this problem is lack of awareness among people regarding drug abuse. In fact, today’s generation of youngsters are being highly influenced by non-traditional methods of entertainment like internet, social networking sites, and mobile phones etc. They spend most of their time on computers, TV and mobile phones.
It is a sad fact that young people of today have become the victims of this deteriorating situation. They should be aware of the harmful effects of drug abuse. In order to fight this problem, the government has formulated several policies and programs. These policies are designed to minimize the menace of drug abuse among teenagers. Following are some of the major measures taken by the Indian government to fight this problem:
* Curfews have been imposed for teens who cannot control their drinking and use of illegal substances. Parents must also inform the police about their children’s behavior. Teenagers who are repeatedly found to be inebriated or drunk cannot enjoy party activities or avail sport events on school campuses. A strict curfew is imposed for them so that they don’t return home
* School students and parents should jointly participate in discussing ways to fight drug abuse among their students. Several seminars are conducted by various community and government organizations for this purpose. Drug rehab centers are increasingly becoming well equipped to treat drug abusers. According to experts, a combination of counseling, medication and drug rehabilitation can successfully address the problem.
* Educational institutions must ensure adequate involvement of parents in child care. Today’s generation of teenagers is highly demanding and ambitious and often get involved in vices such as alcohol and drugs. Their case is more distinct, since many adolescents start using drugs and alcohol before entering college. Parents must play a crucial role in informing the school authorities and administration about their child’s problem.
* It is recommended to reduce the social stigma attached to drug abuse and alcoholism. Adolescents consider it less bad than other bad behaviors. They tend to be more open to discussing their problems with their parents and community. Also, the rising costs of alcohol and drugs in the country has become a huge problem for the society at large. This is another important factor which needs to be considered by the parents.
* Effective treatment programs are offered for alcohol and drug abuse in Indian teenagers. Many treatment centers and rehabilitation centers have established to help teens in this regard. Treatment centers offer both inpatient and outpatient services depending upon the severity of the problem of the teenager. Outpatient programs enable teenagers to manage their problems at home. However, if the teen is caught red-handed in substance abuse and alcohol addiction, he/she should be committed to inpatient rehab facilities so that they can receive inpatient treatment and also be encouraged to continue with their recovery efforts.
* Parents should take proper steps to monitor the activities of their children. Many times, the parents themselves are responsible for finding ways to identify if their children are involved in substance abuse and alcoholism. Strictly monitoring the whereabouts of your teenager is one effective way of locating him/her when the need arises. Many times, parents who are continuously worried about their teenager’s drug abuse problems will ask the police for assistance in finding their son or daughter. This will make the drug abuse problem more visible to the community at large and also help apprehend the culprit sooner.