-SATISH HANDA

Mental Health Department of PGIMS Rohtak on the basis of case study of nearly 250 patients addicted to drugs including heroine, charas and sulpha admitted for treatment in drugs de-addiction centre reveals that nearly 75% of them now want to get rid of drug addiction, it was disclosed by Siddharth Arya Assistant Professor expressing deep concern said that youths in Haryana state famous for  taking milk, curd, butter and other milk products  in past years are now seen involved in the habit of taking drugs and number of drug addict youths fast increasing day by day not only losing their career as well as family life.  A study in this regard reveals that such drug addicted youths unable to afford costly drugs have lost charm in their lives and want to get rid of drugs and most of them unable to bear heavy cost of drugs are now involved them in criminal activities.

Information reveals, over 250 such patients addicted to drugs have been admitted for treatment in drugs de-addiction Centre of Mental Health Department at PGIMS Rohtak during the months April to July this year during lock down period declared by the state, of them more than 75% drug addicts between the age 21-30 were found taking hard drugs like heroine, charas and sulpha and nearly 15% patients consuming alcohol, opium and other medicated drugs also desired to get rid of the same. According to experts, there is need of a long time treatment for those taking hard drugs like heroine and charas since patients consuming such drugs have to be mentally prepared and there is a lengthy process for treatment of such drug addicts.

Information also reveals that during lock down period large number of youths taking light dugs switched over to take hard drugs as admitted by more than 100 youths out of the total number of nearly 250 drug addicts admitted for treatment at PGIMS in this period and they were provided special treatment as an emergency case.. Dr Arya told that these nearly 250 drug addicts getting treatment at present, of them few residing at Rohtak disclosed that there are large numbers of places in the town including Gandhi Camp, Mata Darwaza, Kartarpura and Khokharkot where drugs are readily available and in-spite of all efforts police has failed to stop retail sale of drugs at these places and even supplied at the door on demand..

According to a research in this regard, demand of drugs like heroine, charas and sulpha drastically  increased during lock down period when drugs were not easily available due to police strictness and in nearly 10% cases the families of drug addicts youths were aware that their wards taking drugs and admitted them in drugs de-addiction centre. However, out of nearly 280 patients having treatment at present, nearly 75% of them have symptoms of improvement in them. Dr Arya said, youths start taking drugs initially for fun sake along with friends already taking drugs, gradually become habitual or taking drugs and after sometime become addicted to drugs. He made an appeal to youths to avoid taking drugs under pressure or an attraction in case they want to lead a happy life.