UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 and The Plight of Youth

Juvenile Substance Abuse Series: SDG 3 and plight of youth

Introduction

The Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030) provides for a unique opportunity to ensure a better and sustainable world for people and the planet today and into the future. Sustainable development Goal (‘SDG’) - 3 is to “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” This article is a part of a series on SDG-3 that focuses on good health. In particular, the scope of this series is focused on target 3.5. SDG Target 3.5 is “Substance abuse: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.” This article highlights the alarming statistics of substance abuse across the world.

Statistics

Drug use among youngsters varies from nation to nation and depends upon the social and financial conditions of those included. The global data regarding the increased usage of drugs is alarmingly high and dangerous.

(i) Drug Production

The worldwide opium generation increased by 65% from 2016 to 2017 to 10,500 tons, is effortlessly the most influential gauge recorded by UNODC since it began checking worldwide opium creation toward the start of the twenty-first century. Cocaine production in 2016 achieved an abnormal amount: an expected 1,410 tons. Worldwide cocaine production ascended by 56% amid the period 2013– 2016. The expansion from 2015 to 2016 was 25%. Cannabis was the most commonly used drug in 2016, with 192 million individuals utilising it at any rate in the previous year.

(ii) Worldwide Substance Abuse

According to the World Health Organisation ('WHO') report of 2014, 7% of total deaths in juveniles were due to alcohol usage. Another report further shows that tobacco-related illnesses kill one out of two children who continue smoking from childhood. In 2004, 45,000 deaths were recorded alone in the WHO European Region due to substance abuse.

(iii) Juvenile Drug Addicts in India

Reviews on drug use among the public demonstrate that the degree of drug use among youngsters stays higher than that among more established individuals. The number of drug addicts in India is on a surge. As indicated by UN Convention Reports on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in 1961, 1971, and 1988, it is assessed that, in India, when juveniles are promoted to the ninth grade, they tend to try one or other form of drugs. Approximately 55,000 youngsters who smoke hail from low financial strata with poor social help, broken homes, and casualties of hardship and separation. Admissions to substance abuse treatment programs for persons age 17 or younger increased to 8.9 percent of all admissions in 1997. People aged 19 and younger accounted for more than 49 percent of all marijuana use and dependence admissions. Studies express that 90% of the homeless juveniles in Delhi are dependent on drugs. As indicated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, 46,410 substances abuse cases by roadside youngsters were accounted for in Delhi in a year. The instances of the utilisation of medication substances during the year were heroin (840), opium (420), pharmaceutical opioids (210), and tranquillisers (210). The NGO 'Save the Children' recorded that around 50,923 youngsters were living in Delhi in 2011. Out of these, 46,411 kids were dependent on drugs.

Conclusion

Addiction to these substances is developing quickly among kids. These youngsters have a place in fiscally and financially weaker society defenceless against surrender to peer weight or because of destitution and domestic issues and dreamer inclinations powerless to drug abuse. This must be controlled by spreading mindfulness. The absence of instruction contributes to developing drug addiction among kids. Appropriate education, calm conditions, and careful watch over kids can help diminish their developing dependence on drug substances among them.

By Prerna Deep