Day after falling unconscious, addicted youth seeks treatment

Amid the movement under 'Yudh Nasheya Virudh', there is a story of a married 20-year-old youth, who wants to come out of the shackles of drugs came for the treatment at the drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centre in Nawanshahr recently.

A huge marathon was held under the movement on Friday in the district. The youth was a drug addict since he was a teenager. While sharing how he started, he told The Tribune that his parents were separated when he was a kid and he started feeling alone. "I was living with my father. Some of my friends got him hooked to drugs and I started finding solace in it," he said

He fell unconscious two days ago due to drug overdose and now wanted to get himself admitted to the centre as he wants to leave the addiction. He was accompanied by his wife. "I assured her that I won't take it anymore. I started stealing money from my grandmother's purse," he further said.

"I also went to my mother who is in Ludhiana and started stealing it from her as well. This makes me feel guilty, but when I feel the urge to take drugs, I cannot do anything, have no option but to steal money and get drugs," he said. When two days ago, he fell unconscious, his family members got scared. "I am afraid for my life now. I cry all night because I want to leave, but I am unable to do so," he cried.

Chaman Singh, project director of the centre, said it was the responsibility of the parents to ensure that their children are safe and they must be given emotional support. "In this case, he comes from a broken family where neither mother, nor father gave any support, he felt alone and then fell into a bad company," he said.