Spike in substance abuse cases as scare spreads in city

  • | Sunday | 23rd July, 2017

But we are having cases of serious substance abuse, as well as multiple addictions. I am recommending tests to find out substance abuse,” says V.A. Vignana Jyoti Institute of Engineering and Technology taking out a rally against drug abuse at Necklace Road in the city on Saturday. So, if you translate it, the budget for mental health will be 0.0036%.”The National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 didn’t include Telangana and the figures are not available for substance abuse morbidity. Doctors at the drug de-addiction centres in the city are reporting a sharp surge in the number of cases, as the drug abuse scare has dominated the headlines for the past 10 days.

Creating awareness: Students of V.N.R. Vignana Jyoti Institute of Engineering and Technology taking out a rally against drug abuse at Necklace Road in the city on Saturday. more-in Doctors at the drug de-addiction centres in the city are reporting a sharp surge in the number of cases, as the drug abuse scare has dominated the headlines for the past 10 days. “I am getting frequent calls day and night. Parents are narrating the symptoms and asking me if they tally with the addiction pattern. I am recommending tests to find out substance abuse,” says V.A. Prasad of Hope Trust. “Earlier, I used to have one case every two days, but now I am getting at least four enquiries a day. People are bringing in their children. A few times, there is no drug addiction. But there are cases when the urine samples have tested positive for drugs,” says Ramana Cherukuri, a doctor at Asha Hospitals. The rise in awareness on drug abuse has brought to light the absence of healthcare support for the victims in the city as well as the country. An online search throws up only four private de-addiction centres for a city that has over one crore population. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 classifies substance abuse as a mental illness: “… a substantial disorder of thinking, mood, perception, orientation or memory that grossly impairs judgement, behaviour, capacity to recognise reality or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life, mental conditions associated with the abuse of alcohol and drugs.” But in the absence of sufficient number of trained professionals, the treatment for substance abuse victims has become a challenge. According to an estimate, there are only 3,500 psychiatrists and 1,000 psychologists for a country with nearly 1.3 billion population. Mental health accounts for 0.16% of the Union Health Budget. Speaking during the debate over the Mental Healthcare Bill, Chevella MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy brought home the irony of low priority to mental health: “The Union Health Budget itself is just 2.2%of the overall budget. So, if you translate it, the budget for mental health will be 0.0036%.” The National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 didn’t include Telangana and the figures are not available for substance abuse morbidity. The same study points out that every sixth Indian needs mental health help. “This drug bust and use of psychedelic chemicals among students has shattered all preconceived notions among many families. Now, parents are open to the idea of getting their children treated. We cannot admit minors in this facility, but a first step towards cure is children and parents willing to accept that they have a problem. And that it can be treated like any other illness,” says Dr. Prasad. “Many of the newer patients have a short history of addiction as they are in the experimentation state. But we are having cases of serious substance abuse, as well as multiple addictions. These require psychiatric help, besides the detoxification protocol,” says Dr. Cherukuri. On Saturday afternoon, at the IMAX rotary, a bunch of college students held up placards and raised slogans about drug abuse. “Drugs are dangerous. They can destroy your life in no time,” said Naga Raju, a second year B.Tech student, as he chanted slogans along with his college mates. Will this heightened awareness deal a blow to drug threat? That is the big question.

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Hyderabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles