A Study on Drug Abuse and its Impact on Children

I. Introduction

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are described by intermittent utilization of liquor or drugs (or both) that outcomes in issues, for example, being not able to control utilization of the substance; neglecting to meet commitments at work, home, or school; having chronic frailty; and investing an expanded measure of energy getting, utilizing, or recuperating from the impacts of utilizing the substance. Parent substance use and parent insight of a SUD can effectively affect kids. Kids with a parent who has a SUD are more probable than youngsters who don't have a parent with a SUD to have lower financial status and expanded challenges in scholastic and social settings and family working. In addition to the health risks inherent with alcohol and other drug use, drug abuse often is linked with other risk behaviors (early sexual intercourse , violence, academic failure, truancy/ school dropout, delinquency). Kids having a parent with a SUD are in danger of encountering direct impacts, like parental maltreatment or disregard, or aberrant impacts, like less family assets. Alcohol and other drug use poses a significant threat to the health of youngsters and adolescents. Pediatricians and other medical care providers are in a perfect position to spot drug abuse and to supply preventive guidance and education to children, adolescents, and their families.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has come up with a new policy, National Policy for Drug Demand Reduction (NPDDR), 2014, to independently tackle the menace of alcoholism and medicine abuse and trying to sensitise the youth through social media about the ill effects of drugs. Changes in the pattern of substance use have been seen in recent years worldwide. Although youth drinking has declined, particularly in some of the heavier-drinking parts of the world, trends are in the opposite direction in many places, especially in Asia. Besides, a study that looked into the trends of substance use from 1995 to 2018 showed that although there was an overall decrease in consumption of tobacco and alcohol, there was an alarming increase in the use of other illegal substances which expose the society to new challenges on fronts of recognition, legislation, and treatment as well.

The major factors affecting the Drug Abuse are:

• Family History of Addiction
• Mental Health Disorder
• Peer Pressure
• Lack of Family Involvement
• Early Use of Drug
• Taking a highly addictive drug

In recent years there is a change in the pattern of substance use where the youth drinking habits have decline worldwide and there is a trend that is in an opposite direction in Asia where there is a a change in trend from 1995 to 2018 where there is an overall decrease in the consumption of alcohol and an alarming increase in the use of other illegal substances and also there is an increase in use of prescription drugs by the health care providers.

In comparison with other countries India alone accounts for 6% use of the world's cannabis herb and the purchase of drugs are done through cryptocurrency across South Asia. It is also found that there is preparation of codeine based cough syrups in the name of Corex in Bhutan and India, Phensedyl in Bangladesh and India, Synthetic Opioids in Sri Lanka due to which there is neuropathic pain and anxiety which is being frequently encountered in India and Bhutan. It is also found that the ayurvedic tablets contain opium and tranquillisers, alprazolam and diazepam.

Objective

1. To have a complete understanding of the increase in drug abuse among children.

2. To identify the public’s opinion on the effectiveness of eradication of use of illicit drugs through drug prohibition policies.

3. To analyse the reasons behind illicit usage of such drugs among children and its effects.

Methodology

The research method followed here is an empirical research method. A total of 232 samples have been taken out of which is taken through convenient sampling. The sample frame taken by the researcher is through online publishing and sharing of questionnaires due to the impacts of COVID-19.

The independent variable taken here is age, gender, educational qualification and occupation. The dependent variables are the increase in drug abuse among children, the effectiveness of eradication of use of illicit drugs through drug prohibition policies and the reasons behind illicit usage of such drugs among children and its effects. The statistical tool used by the researcher is percentage analysis under complex graph analysis.

Literature Review

James F. Maddux (2008) has analysed loss of program funds, the treatment rate decreased and the crime rate increased. The changes in the rate of crimes were due primarily to changes in the theft rate. Between the years 1970-1974, the treatment and theft had a significant negative correlation. The tentative attribution part of the changes in the theft rate to changes in the treatment rate.

Ramiro Martínez and et al (2008) has explored illegal drug activity within the local communities, in the past quantitative research on drug markets and also the violent crime in the United States has been conducted mainly at the city level. The results show that drug activity has strong effects on violent crime that are independent of other disorganization indicators. The researchers also find that the drug activity also concentrates in neighborhoods with low rates of migration, less semantic isolation and ethnic diverse ness, and where non drug accidental deaths are prevalent.

Jeff Desimone (2007) has investigated the connection between cocaine costs and wrongdoing and has basic ramifications for U.S. drug strategy, yet is hypothetically uncertain on the grounds that cocaine value changes influence the offense through changes in both cocaine utilization and consumptions. The analyst reasons that dealing with the costs of other drugs,prevention, financial elements, and city and year‐specific impacts, a solid negative relationship exists between cocaine costs and six of seven FBI record wrongdoings.

Jeff Grogger and et al (2000) has explored inescapable famous records that connect rocks to downtown rot, minimal methodical examination has investigated what the rise of break meant for metropolitan wrongdoing. The scientist infers that rocks, the 1991 top in metropolitan crime percentages would have been around 10% lower, staying beneath the past top levels of the mid 1980s.

Eric Fombonne (1998) has examined that the proof for an increased occurrence of the rates of psychopathic disorders including misery, suicide,neglecting, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol abuse was summarized. The researcher concludes that studies also indicate that an earlier age of onset for these disorders is seen in the most recent birth cohorts, with most of these disorders having their onset in adolescent years. The researcher concludes that studies also indicate that an earlier age of onset for these disorders is seen in the most recent birth cohorts, with most of these disorders having their onset in adolescent years.

Andrew S. Rajkumar and et al (1997) has analysed social consequences and costs of criminal activity. The most popular approach for evaluating the costs of crime focuses on uncomplicated measurable factors such as incarceration costs, victims' out-of-pocket expenses, medical costs, and lost earnings. The approximate crime-related costs incurred during the period prior to the treatments of admission and the period after the treatment discharged are significantly higher when compared using the proposed method calculating to the methods that only considers tangible costs. The researcher concludes that the treatment outcomes are not based on an experimental design of avoided criminal activity due to drug abuse interventions.

Wayne Hall and et al (1993) has investigated the connection among wrongdoing and medication use and inspected 313 Australian narcotic addicts who applied for section to methadone treatment. The scientist expresses that over 90% of them had recorded at least one feelings for property or medication offenses. Subjects' self-announced feelings were tolerably connected with feelings recorded by the police. The specialist infers that the rate at which subjects accumulated feelings for property offenses declined as they developed more established and the previous a subject's first openness to the criminal equity framework the higher the rate at which they gathered feelings.

Lana Harrison and et al (1992) has examined involvement in criminal behavior and being arrested and booked for a crime were added to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse to ascertain the relationship between drug use and delinquency. Analysis shows that the usage of drugs is strongly correlated to being booked for a criminal offense, but age is the more important correlate of criminal involvement. The researcher concludes that Cocaine use was the most important covariate of being booked for a crime in large metropolitan areas that were oversampled in the 1991 NHSDA.

Dr. David N. Nurco DSW and et al (1991) has analysed the relationship between illegal drug use and crime. Major conclusions were supported by the results of studies of the criminal activity of opiate abusers who are having higher prevalence and higher rates of crime associated with more frequent use of heroin or cocaine, although the addiction may vary with regard to the type, amount, and degree of the crime they commit.

M. Douglas Anglin and et al (1990) has analysed major drug-treatment modalities-methadone maintenance, therapeutic communities, outpatient drug-free programs, and some criminal justice system-based treatments such as civil commitment-have all been shown to be successful by most outcome criteria. The researcher concludes that evidence on the effectiveness of the treatment suggests a policy of expanding the treatment capacities and opinions and the increasing attention to adequate implementation of treatment programs.

II. Analysis

Legend: The Fig.1 shows about the Age with respect to increase in drug abuse among children.

Legend: The Fig.2 shows about the Gender with respect to increase in drug abuse among children.

Legend: The Fig.3 shows about the Educational Qualification with respect to effectiveness of drug prohibition policies.

Legend: The Fig.4 shows the Occupation with respect to effectiveness of drug prohibition policies.

Legend: The Fig.5 shows about the Age with respect to the effect of illicit drugs in children.

Legend: The Fig.6 shows about the Educational Qualification with respect to the effect of illicit drugs in children.

III. Results

In Fig.1 we could see that people in the age group of 18-30 years and above 60 years have given an aggregate of 8 out of 10 and people in the age group of 30-45 years and 45-60 years have given an aggregate of 9 out of 10 where they have stated that there is increase in drug abuse among children.

In Fig.2 we could see that men have given an aggregate of 6out of 10 and women have given an aggregate of 8 out of 10 where they have stated that there is an increase in drug abuse among children.

In Fig.3 we could see that people who have completed their Higher Secondary and UnderGraduate have stated that there is effective prohibition of drug abuse policies whereas people who have completed their Post Graduate have stated that there is no effective prohibition of drug abuse policies.

In Fig.4 we could see that people who are Self Employed, who are working in Private Sector & Public Sector and people who are doing business have stated that there is effective prohibition of drug abuse policies.

In Fig.5 we could see that people who are in the age group so 18-30 years, 30-45 years and 45-60 years have stated that these illicit drugs cause Long Lasting Brain Disorder and people who are above the age of 60 years have stated that these illicit drugs cause cardiovascular diseases.

In Fig.6 we could see that people who have completed their Higher Secondary and UnderGraduate have stated that these illicit drugs cause Long Lasting Brain Disorder and people who have completed their Post Graduate have stated that these illicit drugs cause Respiratory Problems.

IV. Discussion

In Fig.1 we could see that people have stated that there is an increase in drug abuse among children because we could see teenagers consuming alcohol in the bar and also we could see that children consuming drugs in certain slums areas in the parts of the city which is a serious problem that result in an increase in crime rate.

In Fig.2 we could see that both men and women have stated that there is an increase in drug abuse among children because we could see teenagers consuming alcohol in the bar and also we could see that children consuming drugs in certain slums areas in the parts of the city which is a serious problem that result in increase in crime rate.

In Fig.3 we could see that there is a difference in opinion in the effectiveness of prohibition of drug abuse policies in India because even though there are policies that are effective in words still its application in the real nature is quite less as expected.

In Fig.4 we could see that people based on all segments of occupation have stated that there is effectiveness in prohibition of drug abuse policies because the work culture in their place of occupation might be clean from use of drugs where these drugs very much need to be avoided by the public.

In Fig.5 we could see that usage of drugs causes serious health issues like Long Lasting Brain Disorder and Cardiovascular Diseases which is better to avoid from prohibition the use of illicit drug substances.

In Fig.6 we could see that usage of drugs causes serious health issues like Long Lasting Brain Disorder and Respiratory Problems which is better to avoid from prohibition the use of illicit drug substances.

V. Limitations

The major limitation here is that only by looking into the 208 sample frame we will not be able to come to a conclusion as the matters of privatisation will not alone matter the opinions of private citizens individuals but in a broader perspective. The restrictive area of sample size is also another major drawback. The physical factors are the most impactful and a major factor limiting the study.

VI. Conclusion

From the above analysis it is very much to be taken into the consideration of the opinions from different segments of the society and the results from observing the age, gender, educational qualification and occupation reveal that teenagers consuming alcohol in the bar and also we could see that children consuming drugs in certain slums areas in the parts of the city which is a serious problem that result in increase in crime rate, even though there are policies that are effective in words still its application in the real nature is quite less as expected and usage of drugs causes serious health issues like Long Lasting Brain Disorder, Cardiovascular Diseases and Respiratory Problems which is better to avoid from prohibition the use of illicit drug substances. The main objective of this research is to find to what extent the drug abuse will have an impact on children. Therefore necessary steps are to be taken in order to control the manufacturing as well as usage of drugs by the children by sending the children to homes and other reformatory camps who have been affected by these drugs and also it helps in reducing the crime committed by the children.

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VII. Bibliography

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