Imphal, February 14 2009: A workshop held on substance abuse has recommended inclusion of syllabus on substance abuse in school curriculum and also incorporation of a policy for children in the State drug policy.

The workshop was held at the conference hall of SASO in connection with release of a study report titled "Children at Risk Lost in the Haze'.

The workshop also recommended formulation of a State drug policy, which could not be materialised till date, with sufficient clauses to deal with children drug abusers.

Other recommendations included further research into drug abuse among children, extension of services and programmes launched to reduce drug abuse to children, drug abusers etc.

The report released today was a product of a study conducted with technical support from Childline India Foundation in seven districts of Manipur in 2007 and 2008 on youths below 18 years taking to drugs.

The study conducted by a team comprising of SASO programme manager Bankim Chingshubam, ICTC� HIV/TB district supervisor Ch Umananda, Archana Oinam, RIMS ART councillor Philip Laishram and Dr Abhishek Lakhtakia was based on 220 children below 18 years who have abused drugs.

According to report of the study conducted in Imphal East, Imphal West, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Chandel, Thoubal and Ukhrul districts, some of the intoxicating substances abused by these children were Spasmo Proxybon capsules, heroin, dendrite, ganja, N-10 tablets, lobain, cough syrup, brown sugar etc.

Among these 220 children, percentage of children abusing SP capsules is 46.40 while those abusing heroin is 15.50 percent.

The percentage of children abusing ganja is 6.80 as 3.20 percent of the children were found abusing N-10 tablets.

Another 2.30 percent of the children have been abusing cough syrup while the number of children abusing brown sugar, raw opium etc constitute 1.40 percent.

Generally, these children took to drugs at 14/15 years of age.

In some cases, some of them started abusing drugs from the age of 12 .

The report mentioned that most of these children have been abusing drugs for 2/3 years.

It has been found that they have been suffering from weight loss, headache, abdominal pain, abscess, insomnia, anxiety, depression, tuberculosis. But they don't receive any service either from NGOs or Government unlike their adult counterparts who are beneficiaries of several programmes like needle-syringe programme, primary health care, care and support, counselling, drug substitution therapy and detoxification services.

These children keep their habits to themselves avoiding attention from the public including NGOs working to control the drug menace.

Out of these 220 children on whom the study was conducted, 98.2 percent are boys and 93.2 percent are unmarried.

As per the study report, the primary factors which pushed these children to drugs were their enthusiasm to experiment with drugs, peer influence and incidents that dejected them.

While some these children belong to very poor families, some others belong to well to do families.

Although 82 pc these children are intent on giving up their drug habits, 42 percent of them are unable to consult with health care providers out of shame .

Comment