All parents dream big for their children. If the children are acquiring higher education in foreign lands like the United Kingdom (UK), the expectations are even higher.
However, unfortunate it may sound, the dreams of some unlucky parents are being shattered as the growing trend of drug abuse is taking into its unforgiving arms the cream of our exported talent to the UK.
“These problems are neither solved by consultations with public authorities nor are lessened by resorting to physical punishment,” one former Gurkha says. “We came to UK for our children’s higher education. However, their addiction to drugs has created a traumatic situation for us.” The British government providing resident visas for former service holders of their military, pouring of British Nationals Overseas from Hong Kong and the influx of students from Nepal to the UK under the “Tier 4” visa policy have all contributed to the rise of the Nepali population in the northern side of the English Channel.
With this rise in number, social problems slowly started creeping to the fore.
Many Nepali youngsters—mostly aged 14-24—have started taking drugs, according to Basanta Kunwar, Executive Director of Narconon Nepal, a rehabilitation centre in Nepal that also has its office in London. “Those who have landed here after the completion of their 12th grades from Nepal are found more likely to get exposed to this habit,” Kunwar said.
Given the rise in the number of Nepali youths addicted to drugs, the Rushmore Borough Council has appointed a Nepali, Nem Thapa, as a community support counselor.
His primary role is to spread awareness among Nepali youths and discourage them from future possible hook-ups. According to Thapa, this problem is rife in other communities as well, but the involvement of Nepalis has raised concern for every body.
In 2008-09, Hampshire saw a dramatic increase in the number of those using drugs. Nepali youths are reportedly found using “A” class heroines, which is very harmful with immediate effects. That period also witnessed police cases involving Nepali youths. Most of the cases were related to theft and robbery where the youths resorted to the measure to feed their drug habit. The cases of drug abuse declined in the year 2010. However, addiction is once again at its rampant best this year, if media reports are anything to go by.
Last year, 12 Nepali youths were registered with an organisation “Catch 22” that helps youths below 19 cope with their drug problems. “However, parents are unwilling to register their children with such institutions as a measure of social cover up, which aggravates the situation,” Thapa adds.
So, what has led the youths to use drugs? According to Kunwar, young people find themselves in complete freedom as soon as they land in the UK. Without the monitoring of parents and in some cases behind parents’ eyes, youths are introduced to this self destructive habit through friends, seniors and dealers who initially provide drugs for free. Recreational use slowly transforms into addiction, experts say.
However, unfortunate it may sound, the dreams of some unlucky parents are being shattered as the growing trend of drug abuse is taking into its unforgiving arms the cream of our exported talent to the UK.
“These problems are neither solved by consultations with public authorities nor are lessened by resorting to physical punishment,” one former Gurkha says. “We came to UK for our children’s higher education. However, their addiction to drugs has created a traumatic situation for us.” The British government providing resident visas for former service holders of their military, pouring of British Nationals Overseas from Hong Kong and the influx of students from Nepal to the UK under the “Tier 4” visa policy have all contributed to the rise of the Nepali population in the northern side of the English Channel.
With this rise in number, social problems slowly started creeping to the fore.
Many Nepali youngsters—mostly aged 14-24—have started taking drugs, according to Basanta Kunwar, Executive Director of Narconon Nepal, a rehabilitation centre in Nepal that also has its office in London. “Those who have landed here after the completion of their 12th grades from Nepal are found more likely to get exposed to this habit,” Kunwar said.
Given the rise in the number of Nepali youths addicted to drugs, the Rushmore Borough Council has appointed a Nepali, Nem Thapa, as a community support counselor.
His primary role is to spread awareness among Nepali youths and discourage them from future possible hook-ups. According to Thapa, this problem is rife in other communities as well, but the involvement of Nepalis has raised concern for every body.
In 2008-09, Hampshire saw a dramatic increase in the number of those using drugs. Nepali youths are reportedly found using “A” class heroines, which is very harmful with immediate effects. That period also witnessed police cases involving Nepali youths. Most of the cases were related to theft and robbery where the youths resorted to the measure to feed their drug habit. The cases of drug abuse declined in the year 2010. However, addiction is once again at its rampant best this year, if media reports are anything to go by.
Last year, 12 Nepali youths were registered with an organisation “Catch 22” that helps youths below 19 cope with their drug problems. “However, parents are unwilling to register their children with such institutions as a measure of social cover up, which aggravates the situation,” Thapa adds.
So, what has led the youths to use drugs? According to Kunwar, young people find themselves in complete freedom as soon as they land in the UK. Without the monitoring of parents and in some cases behind parents’ eyes, youths are introduced to this self destructive habit through friends, seniors and dealers who initially provide drugs for free. Recreational use slowly transforms into addiction, experts say.
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