"Prayaas" is a Hindi word , which literally means "an effort" to achieve something, to try to change something.. Prayaas is an initiative by Jahnvi Arora, a student of The British School, New Delhi.
The purpose of this initiative is to spread awareness in people, specially school going children and their parents, about the dangers and pitfalls of using narcotics and drugs, and to motivate them to stay away from addiction. It also aims to help people who have been addicted, by providing the necessary support to enable them to quit this habit.
Jahnvi started this campaign to help people addicted to drugs to live a normal life. After spending some time researching about drugs and their addiction, she began this campaign with the objective of guiding people on how to give up drugs & generate awareness on ill-effects of drugs abuse.
A few years back, She was at a hospital in her hometown for a routine check-up. As she was crossing the foyer, she saw a widowed middle-aged lady sobbing loudly as she clung on to her 4 children for support. After asking the people around her, Jahnvi was told that the deceased died because of drugs addiction. The hospital attendant told her that every week there are several cases similar to the one, she was witnessing. Horrified, she watched the family mourning over the loss of their loved one, and tried not to stare. As she stared into the eyes of the little 4 or 5 year-old girl, who had just lost her father, she realized that something needed to be done about this tumorous problem in her home state. For this reason, she has started this campaign to spread awareness about, and combat substance abuse
Although ‘Prayaas’ is in its early stages, its volunteers have already conducted numerous counseling sessions under its name. These sessions have helped numerous people overcome their addiction to drugs and start a drug-free life. The Counseling sessions were held in several educational institutions, Villages, Corporates, Charitable Trusts and Hospitals.
Our vision is to strive for a drug-free society by spreading awareness about drug addiction and helping people recover. We aim to help durgs addicts start fresh and make a successful comeback to life.
We will realize our vision by
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder,is a dependence on a legal or illegal drug or medication.
When you're addicted, you're not able to control your drug use and you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes. Drug addiction can cause an intense craving for the drug. You may want to quit, but most people find they can't do it on their own.
Drug addiction can cause serious long-term consequences, including problems with physical and mental health, relationships, employment, and the law.
DRUG ABUSE IN INDIA
Today, there isn't a part of the world that is free from drug addiction. Millions of drug addicts all over the world are leading miserable lives. India too is caught in this vicious
There are many reasons why children might end up experimenting with drugs and then getting addicted to them.In most cases drug abuse and mental health problems go hand in hand, but no one knows which one comes first. Some major causes that drive children towards drugs are:
Company of like-minded children, whoare also feeling the same way or are in the same situation can also lead to mutually dragging each other into the world of drug abuse.
When you’re struggling with drug addiction, sobriety can seem like an impossible goal. But recovery is never out of reach, no matter how hopeless your situation may seem. Change is possible with the right treatment and support, and by addressing the root cause of your addiction. Don’t give up – even if you’ve tried and failed before. The road to recovery often involves bumps, pitfalls, and setbacks. But by examining the problem and thinking about change, you’re already on your way to recovery.
DECIDE TO MAKE A CHANGE
For many people struggling with addiction, the biggest and toughest step towards recovery is the very first step: Deciding to make a change! It’s normal to feel conflicts about giving up something that’s become a part of your daily life, even when you realize it’s causing serious problems in your life.
To tackle the menace of drug abuse, Prayaas campaigners led by Jahnvi have been trying to bring about change in their own small ways. The following activities were conducted as a part of the Prayaas campaign.
PRAYAAS AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
We have been visiting several government and private schools and conducting lectures on the menace of drug abuse and how to stay away from this evil.In our school visits, we invited a team of doctors from the civil hospital to interact with the students, which enabled them to understand the impact of drugs on their bodies.
PRAYAAS AT VILLAGES
In addition to visiting educational institutions, we also visited several villages in order to spread awareness and understand better the various..
Today, there isn't a part of the world that is free from drug addiction. Millions of drug addicts all over the world are leading miserable lives. India too is caught in this vicious circle of drug abuse, and the number of drug addicts is increasing by the day.
The epidemic of drug abuse in the younger generation has spread alarmingly in India. Increasing economic stress, changing cultural values, and dwindling family bonds are leading to a rise in drug abuse. A UN report has revealed that around one million heroin addicts are registered in India, but unofficial reports claim the number to be much higher.
It is estimated that in India, by the time most boys reach the ninth grade, about 50 percent of them have tried at least one type of substance abuse. In states like Punjab, the percentage of the youth involved in drug abuse is rising alarmingly. According to reports it is as high as 75%.
India is preparing itself to fight the menace of drug abuse in the country. Several measures are being taken to control this evil disease, which include changes in enforcement, legal and judicial systems:
TYPES OF COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS
The drugs which are most commonly abused in India and responsible for drug addictions are:
Psychoactive Drugs are used in medical treatments and sometimes prescribed by medical professionals under strict guidance. However, all psychoactive drugs are harmful for humans when taken without medical supervision and in an unregulated way.
They are divided into four main categories according to their effect on the mind and body:
Company of like-minded children, whoare also feeling the same way or are in the same situation can also lead to mutually dragging each other into the world of drug abuse.
Some warning signs that your children may be using drugs are:
INFLUENCE OF PARENTS IN STOPPING DRUG ABUSE AMONG THEIR CHILDREN
During adolescence, young children start to take risks and test their limits. It is during this time that parents have a crucial role to play in preventing and addressing the use of drugs and related addictions.
Research shows that the positive influence of parents on their children can be the deciding factor between their children opting a life of drug addiction or a drug-free life.
Although there is no guaranteethat children will avoid the use of drugs, it’s less likely to happen if:
EXPLORE YOUR TREATMENT OPTIONS
As you seek help for drug addiction, it’s important to get treatment for any other medical or psychological issues you’re experiencing. Your best chance of recovery is through integrated treatment for both the substance abuse and mental health problems, if any.
REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT
Don’t try to do it alone. Whatever treatment approach you choose, having a solid support system is essential. The more positive influences you have in your life, the better your chances of recovery.
LEARN HEALTHY WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS
Learn how to relieve stress without drugs. It’s easy when you know how!
Strategies for quickly relieving stress without drugs:
Keep triggers and cravings in check:
Build a meaningful drug-free life
Freedom from drug addiction involves many stages as mentioned above, one such stage is the rehabilitation program.
Drug rehab facilities help drug addicts prepare to re-enter society. Drug addiction often changes a person's behaviour, which can affect all aspects of his or her life, including work and relationships. In drug rehab programmes, patients do their best to regain their normal lives in a safe and healthy way.
There are many different types of drug rehab facilities. Some specialize in helping patients with a specific drug addiction, while others offer a broader range of drug de-addiction services. Some rehab facilities are even gender or age specific, as this often helps patients feel more comfortable in the rehab setting.
DRUG ADDICTS DOS AND DON'TS
Given below are the Dos and Don’ts for those who want to help their family members and friends struggling with addiction.
DOs
DON’Ts
In addition to visiting educational institutions, we also visited several villages in order to spread awareness and understand better the various reasons why people get addicted to drugs..
During the interactions with the villagers,a questionnaire was filled by them, which revealed that some of the main reasons behind drug addiction were workload, depression, stress, peer pressure and boredom. We also conducted counselling sessions for the drug addicts and families.
PRAYAAS AT PRIVATE CORPORATIONS
Our interaction with the truck and bus drivers at M/s Freemans Measures Private Limited revealed that driving long distances required staying awake for long periods of time. At times, their work forced them to drive for more than 24 hours without a halt. The drivers, as a result turned to drugs like Bhuki, Dode, Bhaang, Opium etc., which eventually led to addiction. We also found out that as long as the drugs were available, the drivers were happy doing their job. But non-availability of these drugs, made driving one of the most tedious jobs for these drivers. Many drivers also tried to get rid of the drug addiction, but most of them could not do so in spite of all their efforts.
PRAYAAS AT CHARITABLE TRUSTs
As a part of the campaign, we visited The Guru Nanak Charitable Trust in Ludhiana to interact with the drug addicts, in order to get a better understanding of the circumstances which forced these people into such addictions.
PRAYAAS AT HOSPITALS
Jahnvi visited the Civil Hospital to interact with Doctors (psychiatrist) and patients addicted to drugs. During the lengthy interaction sessions held with them, it was found that drug addiction at advanced stages can act as a catalyst for fatal diseases like AIDS, Hepatitis A, B & C, and other infectious diseases. This was due to the fact that a single syringe was used by the drug addicts.