17/03/2025
An open letter to honarble health minister and honourable cheif minister
To,
The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala,
The Hon’ble Health Minister of Kerala,
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am writing this letter not just as a doctor but as someone who has witnessed firsthand the silent mental health crisis that is pushing countless young people into substance abuse, addiction, and self-destruction. Kerala, known for its high literacy rate and progressive healthcare system, is facing an epidemic of drug and alcohol abuse—but are we addressing it the right way?
We see anti-drug campaigns, awareness programs, and law enforcement measures increasing. While these efforts are commendable and necessary, they are only treating the symptoms, not the root cause.
Mental Health – The Ignored Trigger for Addiction
No one wakes up one day and decides to become an addict. Drug use is often a result of deeper personal struggles—trauma, toxic parenting, professional stress, social pressure, and undiagnosed mental health disorders like ADHD, depression, and anxiety.
Yet, when someone seeks help for mental health issues, they are often dismissed, misunderstood, or ridiculed. Even within the medical community, many doctors lack awareness about ADHD, depression, and addiction as a psychiatric illness.
I personally have ADHD, and when I shared my diagnosis with a fellow doctor, I was told, “There’s nothing like that, just focus and do your work.” If a doctor’s struggles are so easily dismissed, imagine how many young people in Kerala are suffering in silence—turning to drugs and alcohol because no one takes their mental health seriously.
A New Approach: Establishing a Kerala State Mental Health & Addiction Research Wing
I sincerely urge the Kerala government to take a scientific, research-based approach to addiction prevention by:
1. Setting up a dedicated Research Wing under the Health Department to study the mental health factors leading to substance abuse.
2. Integrating Mental Health Education into Schools & Colleges – Teaching young people how to seek help for stress, ADHD, depression, and anxiety before they turn to substances.
3. Training Doctors & Healthcare Professionals – Conducting awareness programs on early identification of mental health issues and empathy-driven patient care.
4. Community-Based Mental Health Support Centers – Instead of just punishing drug users, we need mental health intervention programs that work with families, schools, and workplaces.
5. Enhancing Government Policies on Mental Health – Expanding state-funded therapy programs, helplines, and psychiatric support in hospitals and primary health centers.
A Crisis We Can No Longer Ignore
Kerala cannot afford to continue treating drug and alcohol abuse as just a law enforcement issue—it is a public health emergency, rooted in untreated mental health struggles. Our young generation deserves scientific, compassionate intervention rather than just punishment and stigma.
We urge the Hon’ble Chief Minister and Health Minister to take immediate steps toward a holistic drug prevention strategy that prioritizes mental health research, early intervention, and professional psychiatric support.
If Kerala leads this initiative, it can set an example for the rest of India—proving that true progress is not just about fighting addiction, but about understanding and preventing it at its core.
We, as doctors and concerned citizens, are ready to support and work alongside the government to make this vision a reality. Let’s act before another young life is lost to addiction.
Sincerely,
Dr. Anoob R.C.
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