Under the campaign “Rehabilitation and Reintegration for Children” by Everyside Foundation, a drug deaddiction program was held on 16th April 2024 at Kanipithur village. This program was conducted with the aim to address substance abuse including alcohol, cannabis etc., and digital addictions such as excess use of social media and gaming among children. Addiction is a critical issue affecting a significant amount of population in the country. Drug addiction is the most dangerous of them all, and is not only limited to adults, but also young and teenage children. Drug addictions are seen commonly among children who were orphaned on streets, have a trafficked background and having poor, conflicting and uneducated parents with alcoholic and drug addictions. Such children are exposed to various addictive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, whiteners etc. from a tender age, due to poor supervision or absence of caretakers. Apart from drug addiction, many young children in the current generation are addicted to smartphones, especially social media and games. Such digital addictions result in unhealthy habits and poor concentration in education. This initiative aims to recover children from such addictions and lead to a healthy lifestyle.  This report outlines the objectives to be achieved through this initiative, methodologies employed to achieve the objectives, and challenges faced during the conduction of the program.

Objectives:

1. Rehabilitation: Provide comprehensive services to children to help them overcome dependency on drugs and addictive habits, through therapeutical and educational support.
2. Reintegration: Help children to successfully reenter into their families, communities, and society at large, after recovering from addictive behaviors.
3. Prevention: Increase awareness among children and parents to reduce the likelihood of formation of new addictive habits and prevent relapse for those recovered.

Strategies:

1. Early intervention: Conduct screening programs periodically in risk prone areas such as villages, schools etc. to identify children in the initial stages of drug use and addiction.
2. Supportive care: Utilize qualified professionals to assess, evaluate and supervise drug affected children and provide necessary resources for recovery from addiction.
3. Social awareness campaigns: Educate the society, with a special focus on youth, parents, and community leaders in the most drug affected zones on the importance of strengthening family bonds, reducing isolation and developing coping skills.
4. Supplementary education: Conduct after-school educational programs aimed at teaching students the risks associated with addictions, and benefits of overcoming such addictive behaviors.
5. Advocacy and Policy Reform: Advocate for new policies and changes in existing laws with the goal to enhance the protective rights of children and ensure better access to essential services for their rehabilitation and reintegration.
6. Partnership: Develop collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, civil society organizations, and international stakeholders to make the best use of available resources and expertise in implementing the campaign.

Challenges

1. Resource inadequacy: Limited funding and infrastructure can restrict the capability of providing comprehensive rehabilitation and reintegration services due to operation costs, staff, material costs etc.
2. Stigma and Discrimination: Negative social attitude towards children who have experienced abuse and adversity can lead to marginalization and may hinder their successful reintegration into society.
3. Need for Coordination: Absence of a cohesive strategy among various stakeholders can lead to duplication of services and gaps in support for children in need.
4. Complexity of Needs: Children affected by addiction often have a range of services requiring multi-disciplinary interventions, which can be challenging to coordinate and deliver effectively. 

Potential Impact

1. Enhanced Well-being: By taking care of the comprehensive needs of children, the campaign can significantly improve their physical, psychological, and emotional well-being.
2. Fostering Social Inclusion: Effective rehabilitation and reintegration efforts can help children regain a sense of belonging and acceptance within their families and communities.
3. Reduction of relapse: Providing necessary support and opportunities to children can decrease the probability of them returning to adverse situations.
4. Sustained Societal Benefits: Investing in the children’s rehabilitation and reintegration leads to long-term social benefits by nurturing a generation of healthy, efficient and empowered individuals.

Summary

The “Rehabilitation and Reintegration for Children Campaign” represents a vital initiative aimed at addressing the needs of children affected by addictive behaviors. By providing comprehensive support services, fostering community engagement, advocating for an addiction-free society, and promoting collaboration, the campaign of our NGO Everyside Foundation strives to make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children, their families, communities, and society as a whole. However, to tackle the challenges and realize the full potential of the campaign’s objectives, collective efforts from all stakeholders are essential.