VARANASI: Pradeep (name changed), a teenager who is all set to join college this year, finds himself on one of the de-addiction beds under psychiatry department of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The young student is still recovering from forced drug abuse by his friends that pushed him into drug addiction. Ramzan, a ragpicker, who initially switched to cigarette smoking when instigated by his friends, has now become a drug addict and often looks for heroin or psychotropic drugs.

These are some of the startling stories of drug abuse in young children and youth of the city even as the region looks all set to observe International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) on Saturday (June 26). The growing tendency of drug abuse among youngsters has already raised concerns for health experts in the region. "Young children and youths are becoming an easy prey to the vicious network of drug peddlers in the region. This network is now spreading even to remote rural areas," said Sanjay Gupta, head, psychiatry department, BHU. It all starts from a cigarette puff and later transforms into deep addiction of hard psychotropic drugs including opium, heroin, cannabis and others.

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