KOZHIKODE: Vineetha, a resident of Kurudimukku near Koyilandy, would never have imagined a day when she would send her son away to a de-addiction centre. Her voice trembles as she recounts the heartache of watching her 21-year-old son, once a bright and loving boy, fall into the clutches of drug addiction.
“We pleaded with him, tried everything, but when he started threatening to kill me and others in our family, I knew it was life or death,” she says, holding back tears. “I had no choice but to contact a de-addiction centre,” she says.
Vineetha’s grief is echoing across Kerala. Parents, overwhelmed by fear and desperation, are turning to rehabilitation centres in huge numbers as drug abuse — especially of synthetic substances — spirals out of control among the state’s youth. The de-addiction centres in Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad and Ernakulam are stretched to their limits. “We are running at full capacity, and even have waiting lists now,” says Dr Ramesh Pillai, senior psychiatrist at Jeevan De-addiction Centre in Wayanad.
According to data with Vimukthi, the de-addiction programme of state excise department, the first two months of 2025 witnessed a staggering 11,174 in-patient cases. Pathanamthitta recorded the highest number of admissions with 1,446 cases, while Kannur had the lowest (183). The out-patient figures were even more shocking — 1,38,635 in two months.
The most alarming figure, however, is the increasing number of addicts below the age of 18. In the first two months of 2025, 588 minors were sent to rehab centres, a sharp increase from previous years.
Psychiatrists call for timely intervention
In 2021, 681 minors were admitted to rehabilitation centres, while the figures increased to 1,238 in 2022, and 2,885 cases in 2024.
“It’s an alarming situation. We used to mainly treat people who are in their late twenties and above. But today, we’re flooded with young adults between 16 and 22 years,” says Dr Ramesh Pillai. “Wayanad is home to around 15 rehabilitation centres and calls from frantic parents pour in daily. We can only accommodate 50 inmates at a time because we prioritise specialised care,” adds Dr Pillai.
Joint Excise Commissioner Pradeep V A attributes this surge in admissions to a shift in parental attitude and increased cooperation from educational institutions. “Parents are panicking and bringing their children in much earlier,” Pradeep tells TNIE.“Schools and colleges, which once concealed such issues, are now actively tipping us off. The ganja seizure at Kalamassery Polytechnic is just one example of how deeply this issue has penetrated educational spaces, he says.
In the first two months of 2025, Vimukthi’s counselling centres in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode received 4,581 direct cases, and its helpline handled over 18,698 calls — three times more cases than same period last year.
Health experts say the rising drug abuse cases is a symptom of a larger social crisis. “When I started my career, alcohol was the main issue,” says Dr Arun B Nair, professor of Psychiatry at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. “Post-Covid, we’ve seen a sharp rise in synthetic drug abuse. Many of these youngsters are unemployed and socially disconnected. Lack of empathy, patience, and human connection has left them vulnerable. Instant gratification is the new norm — when desires aren’t met, they turn impulsive and reckless,” says Dr Arun.
Psychiatrists warn that without timely intervention, this generation risks facing severe psychological disorders, criminal tendencies, and irreversible physical health damage. “We are no longer dealing with just addiction. We are battling a growing emotional and social disconnect,” he says.
Meanwhile, parents like Vineetha are left hoping for a miracle. “I just want my son to come back home healthy and whole,” she says. “No mother should have to choose between saving her child and protecting her family,” she says.
Alarmed by the escalating crisis, the state government has announced plans to expand de-addiction infrastructure and intensify awareness campaigns targeting both parents and the youth through the Vimukthi mission.
