MD scourge in city: 536 teen addicts at GMCH for synthetic drug abuse

Nagpur: With teenagers and young adults increasingly seeking treatment for addiction to synthetic drugs, particularly MD or mephedrone, the dramatic change in profile of patients visiting Drug Treatment Clinic at the city's premier govt healthcare facility, GMCH, has left parents and health experts worried.What was once a centre mainly catering to tobacco and alcohol dependence is currently treating 536 patients, who are battling substance abuse, many of whom are trapped in networks supplying contraband ranging from ganja (cannabis) to MD.Doctors say the most disturbing shift is not only in the nature of substances being consumed but also the age-group. Earlier, individuals approaching the clinic for de-addiction were largely adults in their 30s and 40s. Today, teens and college goers are forming a growing segment of patients.Experts attribute the trend partly to changing social behaviour, where experimentation, peer influence, lifestyle aspirations and perception of drugs as symbols of status or modernity are pushing youngsters towards substance use.Data from the clinic shows ganja remains the most common substance, accounting for 399 patients, followed by MD (35) and brown sugar (30). Other cases include opioid use (15), cocaine (12), heroin (10), injectable drugs (10), opium (9), intoxicating tablets (7), white sugar (5) and MDMA (4).Dr Manish Thakre, nodal officer of Drug Treatment Clinic at GMCH, said addiction should not be viewed merely as a habit but as a serious physical, psychological and social disorder. "Here, treatment goes beyond stopping substance abuse. Many patients require mental health support and structured counselling," he said.Doctors emphasised that family support remains critical to recovery. Parents are counselled on communication, behavioural support and creating a stable environment at home. Counsellors, including Swapnil Tupe, are actively involved in rehabilitation efforts.The clinic functions under the National Drug De-Addiction Programme, supported by the Union health ministry in association with KEM Hospital, Mumbai, and AIIMS, Delhi. Initially, stigma and fear kept many away, doctors said. But with visible recovery among patients and access to counselling, psychiatric care and free medicines, the GMCH centre is increasingly becoming a lifeline for families struggling with addiction.Dr Thakre said easy availability of drugs and access to money among teenagers are the biggest factors driving addiction. "A decade ago, it was difficult for teens to procure these substances. The urge to experiment, the tendency to do what parents prohibit, strained family relationships, and a breakdown in communication between parents and children are some of the other major causes of addiction among teens," he said.The recovery rate, he added, remains abysmally low at just 8-10%. "Many patients stay away from drugs for a few months, but relapse is common and they often return to substance abuse," he said.The clinic also receives around 150 alcohol-dependent patients every month, while another 70 to 80 new patients are added to its caseload on a regular basis.