Young ones unfortunate enough to be addicted to drugs found solace from experts on Saturday. The unlikely host for a workshop on “Drug abuse among children and correction” was the Bangalore Police, which for the first time took up the cause of providing necessary support for their de-addiction.
The workshop also gave about 50 youngsters addicted to drugs hope on their de-addiction process as experts from National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Science (NIMHANS) delved into various aspects of de-addiction and stressed the role and support of the family in the process. The youngsters and their family members shared their experiences at the gathering.
Tales of woe
If 20-year-old Sandeep narrated days about when he forced his parents to give him money to buy drugs, 35-year-old Ashwin spoke on how drug addiction spoiled his life. Prabhakar, a resident of Cottonpet, sought details on the facilities available for de-addiction. Earlier, Professor Pratima Murthy, who heads the De-addiction Centre at NIMHANS, stressed the need for family support during the de-addiction process, more so during a relapse.
She said: “Relapses happen quite often and it's at this stage that support is necessary. Family members can take the addicted persons through medication and counselling, which is readily available.” Those requiring help can visit the NIMHANS's out-patient ward on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Alok Kumar said: “Though Section 27 of the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act provides for prosecution of users of drugs, we are not doing it. We want to provide the addicts with a new environment,” he said.
