Sangrur boy hooked to drugs returns home after rehab

SANGRUR:For the 15-year-old boy from the Dirba area of Sangrur district getting hooked to drugs for two years has been a disquieting experience.

The boy consumed charas (cannabis) and prescription medicines with his adult friends, most of whom were married, at the village stadium and would come home late in intoxicated condition making one or the other excuse before his mother, who is ailing from cancer, to hide his addiction. The family got to know about his addiction and consequent stepping into the world of crime when he was caught with ₹18000 by his labourer parents.

The eldest among three children of his parents, the intoxicated teenager sometimes attacked his parents. His second brother was adopted by their relatives due to poverty while the youngest one takes care of their ailing mother.

“I started taking drugs for sake of fun. Initially, I would smoke but eventually I became an addict. I consumed different types of drugs to get things going. My companions often offered me drugs for free,” he said outside the Red Cross de-addiction centre on Thursday after undergoing a 45-day course. His paternal aunt welcomed him with tears.

“After joining the de-addiction centre, I gained 7kg weight. I have decided not to meet my addict friends again. I want to resume my studies,” he said. His aunt said his father had to migrate to the Gulf given the family’s economic condition. “His mother is getting treatment from a local quack. His father was expecting that he would help the family but he went the wrong way. Now, we are planning to enroll him in school for further studies,” she said. Mohan Sharma, director of Red Cross de-addiction centre, said the boy was treated free of cost. “He would have turned criminal. Now he has learnt good habits and wants to begin a new life,” Sharma said.