‘THE VICIOUS WEB OF DRUGS SPOILS THE DREAMS AND LIVES OF THE YOUNG’ Abstract: This Paper makes an in-depth study of the problem of drug addiction among the youth of today. The author interviewed some addicts, teachers, parents, and community leaders to nd the ground realities. There were also questionnaires to be answered by students, teachers, and parents. The results show that drug addiction is a real problem amongst our youth of the school and college going age. Unless we stop this menace, we will have to reap the bitter harvest sooner or later.
Statement of the Problem: The problem of drug addiction has become a serious menace threatening the future of our youth, especially school and college-going youth. This age-group is more vulnerable to addiction because most of them are teenagers. Teenage, as we all know, is the time of stress and strain. To overcome their stress and strain, many youngsters take drugs. These drugs give them temporary pleasure relieving them of their tensions for a brief period.
Information on drug abuse was collected from various sources including books, journals, lecture notes and the Internet. Direct studies were made through interviews and questionnaires. From the sources the author consulted, he has come to the conclusion that he problem is really big and solutions should be found.
Causes : Analysing the responses from people, the author has made certain conclusions regarding the spread of the problem. One problem is that the youngsters today get a lot of money from their parents. Since most families have only a child or two, they are pampered by the parents. Many of the parents don’t have the time to spend with their children and they compensate this by giving them money which the youngsters misuse. Another reason is peer-group influence.
A third reason is blind imitation of the so called glamour boys and girls in films and sports who use drugs. A fourth reason is the easy availability of the stuff. If you have money you can buy it very easily. If you give them a call, the peddlers will bring the stuff to you. Another reason is the moral laxity of the times. We can also see that the law enforcing agencies are not sincere in their work. Our society has degenerated into a corrupt one and one, it seems, can do anything without being caught.
Effects: Sensual drugs play havoc with the body and mind of their users. The drug addict experiences sensory deprivation. He has a general feeling of physical discomfort and there are personality changes in him. The addict feels depressed. He fails to respond either to his environment or to other people. His mental disturbance can be like paranoia. The addict knows he has a problem. But he does not know the source of his problem and he looks for its cause in everything but himself. He looks upon external objects with suspicion. Anything outside scares him and he withdraws further and further into himself.
Drugs also affect the body adversely. Dirty needles and solutions used for injecting “drugs can cause abscesses in the arms and veins. They can cause liver disease, venereal disease and infection of the kidney and brain. Sniffing cocaine and amphetamines can damage the tissue of the nose. Marijuana and tobacco smoking can cause lung diseases. Babies of women addicted to opiates are likely to be born addicted and to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Cocaine and amphetamines cause hair fall. Marijuana can damage cells. A drug addict can easily get pneumonia, tuberculosis, mal-nutrition and weight loss. An overdose of any sensual drug can cause respiratory or cardiac failure and death.
Solutions: The drug problems can be solved only through the concerted efforts of the parents, teachers, community leaders and law-enforcing agencies. Awareness programmes should be conducted about the dangerous effects of drug abuse. Parents should ensure that their children are not given money for which they can’t give a proper account. Community leaders must ensure that the youth have enough facilities and enjoy and expend their energies in a positive way. The police must make sure that sensual drugs are not easily available to the youth. Medical shops should sell medicines only on prescription by doctors.
References:
1. Dangers of Drug Abuse by Hardin B. Jones
2. An Internet article on Sensual Drugs and their Effects
3. Reader’s Digest Article on “Youths and Drugs”, May 2015
