10 March, 2014

Why does Karnataka have the most child alcohol addicts?

A recent national study on substance abuse among children found that alcohol use in this group was reported to be the highest in Karnataka: 88.9%. 

The report has reiterated what child rights activists have been saying about the alarming rise in substance abuse among urban and rural children.

The study — titled 'The Assessment of Pattern and Profile of Substance Use among Children in India' — was commissioned by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the country's apex child rights organization, and conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, New Delhi.

Innocence lost

Tobacco and alcohol use are higher among those living at home, compared to those living on the streets, states the report. "It's a concern for us as more youngsters are getting addicted to tobacco, alcohol and other recreational drugs. In today's changing social milieu, children have no role models. They think it's cool to smoke or drink. They don't realize that once they get addicted to a vice, it's difficult to get out of the habit," says M Kishore, psychiatrist.

Vicious circle

But that's not the only problem, says Vasudev Sharma, executive director of the Child Rights Trust (CRT) and State Convener of the Karnataka Child Rights Observatory (KCRO). According to a survey done by the South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (SICHREM) — a Bangalore-based human rights non-governmental organization — only 120 of the city's 200 de-addiction centres are licensed, while the remaining are "money-making ventures that offer no therapeutic value at all". "Many rehabilitation centres that are not registered under The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, are flourishing on the outskirts of Bangalore. What is worrying is that these rehab centres don't have expert counsellors to deal with children who are victims of substance abuse. Moreover, these centres don't follow up on the health status of their patients once they leave their premises. Thus, there is a high relapse rate among addicts," says child rights activist Nagasimha G Rao.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

10.03.2014

Are you sleeping correctly?

Along with the number of hours that you sleep, your sleeping position also determines if you are well-rested or not.

In fact, an incorrect sleeping position can also cause stress on your back leading to backache and problems. Here are ways to improve your sleep.

Choose a sturdy mattress: Opt for a firm mattress instead of going in for a fluffy one that can ruin your back. Usually, mattresses should be changed after seven or eight years. If your mattress feels lumpy or soft, it's time to upgrade it.

Use the right pillow: Always support your neck with a pillow and opt for one which will support your spine. An extremely thick or hard pillow may end up hurting your neck and you might feel sore when you wake up. When sleeping on a pillow, make sure that your chin is parallel to your bed rather than resting on your chest.

Sleep on your side: Be it sleeping on your left or right, side-sleeping posture is recommended by most sleep experts. If you are not comfortable sleeping on the sides, sleep on your back and keep a pillow under your knees, so that they are raised a little.

Never sleep on your stomach: Sleeping on your stomach can stress your neck and spine. Similarly, some people use their hand to sleep on, that can often sprain your neck. As a result, avoid sleeping on your stomach.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

10.03.2014

Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up

Jesse Jackson