Child Addiction
Posted by NEED Staff on March 3rd 2009 in Journalist Profiles, Organizations, Photo EssaysThis post was submitted by photographer Nathan Golden
Street children living at the Howrah Railway Station near Kolkata, India, take care of themselves and each other in an otherwise uncaring environment. I was moved by their ability to generate a community and to survive. They represent tremendous potential that is wasted and in danger of being lost altogether.
Drug usage among minors has created a global generation of addicted and often abandoned children bereft of family support, education and social skills. Most of the kids at Howrah are addicted to Dendrite, an industrial glue that provides a quick, powerful high, and that is both cheap and readily available. The kids squeeze Dendrite onto a rag and huff (inhale) its fumes through the mouth. Huffing Dendrite immediately affects the brain and frequently causes hallucinations. Solvent fumes can cause extensive damage to the brain and nervous system, liver, kidneys and heart. Some users die without warning from cardiac failure.
A handful of organizations help these kids recover. My purpose in telling this story through photography is to further bring assistance to these children so they can escape addiction and life on the streets.
full photo essay: ascribeimages.com
information on involvement: Streams of Mercy
July 17th, 2009 at 8:28 am
This is reality for many thousands of children. I have visited a railway station and spent the day with kids living there, in Mumbai - I write about it in my book, The Weight of Silence: Invisible Children of India. A lot of these kids run away and take trains, often without even knowing where they’re heading, and end up living in the train stations where they arrive. Besides addiction, they’re usually victims of abuse and harassment, and are extremely vulnerable to trafficking, child labor and the sex trade. More people need to support quality NGOs that are going something to help these kids. Oasis India is a great start.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Do you have copy writer for so good articles? If so please give me contacts, because this really rocks!