The definition of fun has changed for Nick (name changed) at 19. He isn’t like other teens who enjoy college and party with friends. Nick, who started doing drugs when he was in 9th standard, stays in a rehabilitation center.

“I started doing drugs when I was in the 9th grade. Did not attend school, roamed around and spent all my time consuming,” the 19-year-old inmate told Opoyi.

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What pushed Nick to drugs at 14?

Nothing. Nick is the loved son in a happy family and he was a bright child who scored well in school. The thing he started for fun became his addiction.

Nick’s mother said, “In class 9th, I found out that Nick wasn’t attending school and stealing money from home. It was a shock for me. The principal had even confiscated Nick’s mobile phone and I didn’t know about it.”

A year over and Nick’s mother was still hoping that his son was just in the wrong company and would soon be fine.

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By the time Nick reached the 11th standard, his mother thought he had moved on and will start afresh. But the ‘fine’ was short-lived. In September that year, Nick’s mother found marijuana in her house. “We knew he was smoking but weed was a shock,” she said. By the time she realised, Nick was deep into this and needed help.

“He stopped bathing, didn’t take care of himself, lazed around. One day I found him smoking weed in the bathroom. He didn’t even deny it. That is when I realized that my son smoked weed all day,” she said, adding that he grew so aggressive that he started beating his family including her.

“One day, he got into a fight with his younger brother and beat him in front of our neighbours and other people. We were not able to control him. It was time to take strong action,” said Nick’s mother who didn’t even know what marijuana looked like here she had to save her son from this addiction.

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The mother adds that no NGO was willing to take a minor in without getting the police involved. But the police didn’t help her and she did not want to take a chance.

From NGO to police to narcotics, and several phone calls to almost every concerned authority. Result? No response from anyone while Nick’s mother ran from pillar to post to save her son.

Finally, one NGO agreed and Nick was admitted into the rehabilitation center.

Nick, who was at his worst behaviour then, was forcefully admitted into the rehabilitation center, Nirved.

“I was 15 years old when I came here (rehabilitation center)… This is my second home now,” Nick said.

“I used to be angry with my parents all the time. I shouted at them and fought every day… I was very studious as a kid but during my drug addiction, things completely changed and this affected their life also,” he said.

He is the old Nick now.

Parties and bunking lectures don’t really attract me now, he said, adding that I pursue my hobbies, spend time in the gym, learn new things and sometimes go out with the counsellor. I make friends but make sure they are not into drugs.”

Nick’s relationship with his parents has ‘completely changed’

“They are happy now and after seeing the changes in me they have found peace. And that makes me happy,” he said.

The 19-year-old aspires to be a criminal lawyer. But more than that he just wants to lead a simple life.