Hyderabad: For the 13-year-old Sirisha (the name changed on request), the chancing on a bottle of whiskey which was not kept at home during the second wave turned out to be a big temptation to try it.
The invention of the opportunity immediately turned into an obsession and he even stole money and bribed his servant to get liquor for the past four months.
He is now under therapy after his parents catch him to steal money from home.
Meanwhile, parents of a 17-year-old teenager student were feared by an incident of an anger, irritability, sleep disorders and reduced motivation and rushed into a psychiatrist.
Teenagers reveal the impact of the pandemic in his life, how he reduces concentration and other mental health problems and is now a regular marijuana consumer, usually donating it from PAN stores.
“In history and interviews, he talked about how the pandemic had limited him from going for basketball coaching and swimming and how he could not meet his friends like before.
He even talked about loneliness that pulled him towards the use of marijuana regularly.
In the last 6 months , 20 to 30% of teenagers in practice I have been diagnosed with depression disorders and underlying substances, “said Dr.
Virinchi Sharma, a Psychiatric Consultant and Director of the Hospital Manasa, added that children admit to getting access to Cannabis only by Rs 50 to Rs 70.
Like these two teenagers, many younger residents have undergone the burden of limiting pandemic in life and has turned to the expression and abuse of substances.
Abuse substances among children in the age group 12 to 18 years, meanwhile, doubled over the past few months, said experts and at least 5 to 6 hospital admissions were reported in a month among these children.
“Boredom, depression and sudden loss of all activities related to childhood and structured school life has encouraged many people to experiment with marijuana and alcohol.
Substance abuse is being seen in children who are able to come out or have access to something, Like the availability of alcohol at home.
Also, the fact that many information is exchanged among peers can work as a tempting factor.
There is a big increase in substance abuse and being seen in all social strata, “said Dr.
Vasuprada Karthik, a psychologist who worked with the institution Governments such as Bharosa and Sheteams.