By Natalia Rueda 
The reality of some children in Colombia is sad and heartbreaking. From an early age they face the harsh and dangerous life of drug addiction. They wander the streets, far from the safety of a home and in search of something to escape their reality. Andrea Moreno, a young Colombian woman, shared on her TikTok account a video that moved many. In it, a boy of only 14 years old is seen using glue in the street. This boy, like many others in his situation, takes refuge in drugs as a form of escape from the problems he faces in his life.
The boy narrates how, driven by desperation and lack of opportunities, he began his journey into the world of drugs. “Vice is horrible, the center calls you in the morning. First I started with marijuana, then with tusi and then with perico (cocaine),” he comments, showing regret and pain for having started down this path. His words reflect the harshness of a reality that many children in Colombia face on a daily basis.
@andreiitha_moreno9 La calle es una prisión la historia de un niño que sufren en silencio 🥹
♬ sonido original – Andreiitha Moreno 💞
The social rejection these children experience is another painful aspect of their lives. This particular young man speaks of the isolation and discrimination they suffer, which aggravates their situation and sinks them even deeper into dependency. Despite this bleak context, many of them retain a spark of hope and a desire to change someday, although at the moment they lack the strength to leave the street and addictions.
This boy’s story is not an isolated case; he represents a forgotten generation, caught between lack of opportunities, drug use and social rejection. It is imperative that the government develop prevention and rehabilitation programs, integrating a comprehensive approach that considers their emotional and social needs.