Reasons For Street Children To Abuse Substances

Although the use of psychoactive substances can result in dangerous problems, many street children use them either because a certain substance builds up something to their lives or it solves a problem for short time. There is a relationship between the problems of life on the street and the effects which substances sometimes generates.

Some effects produced by substances which street children may desire in order to get relief from their problems on street are:

• Substances help them in reducing hunger pains.
• Substances help street children in removing boredom and provide excitement.
• Substances help in reducing fear and provide courage
• Substances removes the feelings of shame, depression, hopelessness
• Substances act like a self medication to people as they suffer from lack of medicine and medical care.
• Substances produces drowsiness which makes the street children fall asleep in a noisy, overcrowding, cold or heat, mosquito bites environment.
• When street children are tired due to lack of sleep, substances helps in increasing energy to work
• Substances improves alertness in street children as they are more prone to risk of abuse and attacks.
• As street children lack recreational facilities, substances provide entertainment
• As street children suffer from social isolation, substances provides feel of association with other substance users
• Substances help in relieving physical pain in street children as they work vigorously.
• When street children have no money to buy food, substances make them easier to steal

Street children will not use substances because to eliminate mainstream society, but because they have lost their connection with it.