Statewide anti-drug abuse campaign by Kolkata’s top government hospital is now focusing on students

SSKM Hospital's Psychiatric Social Work Department partners with Narcotics Control Bureau to combat drug abuse in schools and colleges.

The Psychiatric Social Work Department of one of Kolkata’s top medical institutions, the SSKM Hospital, which has been running a campaign in West Bengal against drug abuse, has now shifted its focus to schools and colleges in the State with the support of the Narcotics Control Bureau, a Central body.

“From our experiences listening to young people in clinics and reading through studies, we have come to a clear understanding that there is a real need for more support for students in schools and colleges when it comes to their mental and emotional health. There’s also a growing concern about drug and substance use, especially within educational institutions,” Mayank Kumar, Assistant Professor at the department, who is leading the campaign, told The Hindu.

According to Mr. Kumar, studies have indicated the overall prevalence of substance abuse among students in West Bengal was over 50% for ‘ever abusers’ — those who had tried drugs at least once — and that the commonest age of onset of the habit was 14 years (30.37%). The majority (56.86%) felt encouraged by their peers.

The first phase of the SSKM Hospital campaign, focusing mainly on prisons and on sensitising the police/government officials, began on April 17. The second phase, focusing on sensitising teachers, principals, students, and parents, began on June 5 at Kolkata’s Newtown School, and will continue on June 12 at Mandarmoni. The Mandarmoni event will be mainly a sensitisation workshop attended by Principals of Kendriya Vidyalayas from West Bengal and Sikkim. The Narcotics Control Bureau (Kolkata zone) too is observing July 12-26 as a fortnight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking with the Psychiatric Social Work Department of the SSKM Hospital.

“On the basis of field-based observations, we are witnessing more and more students and adolescents struggling silently, often without knowing how to ask for help. Many of them are under immense pressure — mostly from academics, the constant competition to achieve top marks, and the deep fear of falling short,” Mr. Kumar said.

“This pressure is often unintentionally reinforced by well-meaning parents who want the best for their children’s future. But what’s often overlooked is that these students are still developing emotionally. They’re still trying to understand themselves and the world around them, and they don’t always have the tools to cope with stress, failure, or rejection. What they need most is not just advice, but kindness, patience, and emotional support — from teachers, parents, and the people around them,” he said.

“When empathy is missing at home, they often turn elsewhere for comfort. That’s where peer groups come in. If they fall into the wrong group, they may begin experimenting with substances like cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs — not out of curiosity alone, but to feel accepted, to escape their emotions, or to feel in control in an otherwise overwhelming world,” Mr. Kumar said.