Al-zakir
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2008
- Messages
- 8,612
- Reaction score
- -8
- Country
- Location
Srinagar (PTI): Nearly half the unemployed youth in Kashmir are seeking solace in toxic substances to overcome stress and anxiety caused by not being able to earn a livelihood.
The startling findings have surfaced in a survey conducted by Kashmir chapter of Action Aid International in Srinagar, Budgam and Pulwama districts of the valley over a period of four months last year.
According to the survey, 29 per cent of the the unemployed youth (male) surveyed smoke cigarettes in order to relax themselves and reduce anxiety and tension. "The reason for this is that cigarettes are cheap, easily available and smoking is not considered as a stringent social taboo," it said.
As many as 12 per cent of the respondents, which includes females take sleeping pills to overcome stress, the survey noted. Two per cent of the respondents admitted that they resort to drinking alcohol in an effort to relieve their anxiety, whereas another two per cent take anticough syrups because of the alcohol contents in them.
Four per cent of the respondents take drugs to reduce mental stress, it said. This shows that the youth tend to resort to negative measures to get out of this psychological burden, the NGO noted.
The Hindu News Update Service
