Drug and alcohol addiction is a serious concern that is affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide. When a person consumes alcohol or takes drugs recklessly even after knowing its negative consequences, then it is called drug and alcohol addiction. People usually lose control when they start consuming it on a regular basis, due to which they face multiple problems at home, with family and friends, and at the workplace as well.
According to the recent report of the World Health Organization, approximately 400 million individuals, or 7% of the global population aged 15 and above, suffered from alcohol consumption disorders. Of these, 209 million individuals—or 3.7% of the global adult population—were dependent on alcohol.
Drug and Alcohol Addiction in India:
Drug and alcohol addiction in India is a public issue. Concern about its effect is increasing in India. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 2020, approximately 14% of Indians aged 10-75 years are alcohol consumers, and approximately 2.8% use narcotic drugs. During the survey, it was found that alcohol is consumed in many places in India. Among the users of narcotic drugs, cannabis is used the most in India. After this are opioids, heroin, and prescription medicines.
There are several reasons behind this public health concern, including personal and familial issues, stress, and the easy availability of substances. Quitting alcohol or drugs is sometimes very challenging. For this one has to deal with the root causes of addiction.
The Main Causes Of Alcohol And Drug Addiction In India:
The main reason for high drug and alcohol addiction in India is that drugs, alcohol, and other intoxicants are available very easily and that too at a very low cost. A total of 10% of youth in India are drug & alcohol addicts. The other reason for drug & alcohol addiction in India is some emotional factors and some psychological factors. Apart from this, there are many other reasons due to which people in India become victims of drugs and alcohol. Let’s delve deeper into these reasons.
Psychological Factor:
Usually when a person is under too much stress, he starts consuming alcohol and drugs. Stress can happen to a person due to many reasons like job related, personal issues, family problems, relationship issues etc. Many times, due to disturbed mental health, a person starts consuming alcohol and drugs. Addiction is very much related to the psychology of an individual as it affects the neurological systems of the brain which makes an individual dependent and the person gets trapped in the vicious cycle of addiction.
Emotional Factor:
Some people, when they get very emotional, start consuming drugs and alcohol. Due to not being able to control and express his feelings, a person starts using substances to cope with his/her sadness. Sometimes it is also seen that when a person is a victim of anxiety, then he consumes drugs or alcohol in a fit of rage. Due to the presence of some components in substances, a person loses his senses for a certain time and forgets everything and feels good which encourages him/her to consume more and this ultimately leads to addiction. People with sleeping disorders and depression use drugs and alcohol to get away from their feelings and problems or to forget them.
Other Factors Influencing Substance Misuse In India
Apart from these basic reasons there are some common reasons due to which people in India are heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol.
1. Easy Availability:
In India drugs and alcohol are easily available for less money. Due to which a person buys it without thinking twice and starts consuming it. Recently, on 6th October it was found out that in the outskirts of Bhopal, Narcotics control bureau and Anti-terrorism squad of Gujarat uncovered a drug manufacturing unit that was operating on an industrial scale. Authorities seized 907.09 kg of mephedrone (MD), both in solid and liquid forms, with an estimated value of Rs 1,814.18 crore in the international market.
2. Promotions Of Alcohol:
Alcohol companies promote alcohol through surrogate advertising by calling it a soft drink. Due to which young people are excited to buy it. Three years ago, ‘men will be men imperial blue- The crossing’. An advertisement was seen in the media in which alcohol was being indirectly promoted.
3. Peer Pressure:
Peer pressure is among the prime reasons for substance misuse in India. A person starts consuming alcohol and drugs first through his friends and colleagues. Often people go to parties and consume drugs and alcohol on the insistence of their friends. In 2018, recent arrests in Kolkata show around 4 kgs of cannabis reaching the students each month. Heroin, too, remains a major draw in the city.
4. Digital Media:
People, especially the younger generation, get influenced through digital media, social media and influencers. Young people try to recreate the same things after watching pictures and videos of people consuming alcohol and drugs in the media.
5. Trauma:
Many times people start consuming alcohol and drugs due to childhood trauma and violence. Due to some incident in childhood or due to something wrong or bad happening to a person, he remains troubled for a long time. Due to which people start consuming drugs and alcohol to cope with their past trauma.
Conclusion
The excessive use of drugs and alcohol has become a global issue. There are some factors such as the social circle that one belongs to, personal use, and the very easy access to substances contributes to this vice. It will take much more than stricter regulations on the distribution of drugs, wider public treatment facilities, or even campaigns against the mass media’s promotion of the use of drugs to eliminate this scourge. Taking care of one’s physical, mental and social health and an appropriate support are, in the end, both crucial for the avoidance as well as the treatment of a person’s substance abuse.
