DRUG addiction is one of the most burning problems of modern society. Presently there are 2.5 million brown sugar addicts in India. It is estimated that these will reach to 15 million at the end of this century. It has destroyed the constructive and creative powers of millions of youths. The monster can destroy a person physically as well as mentally, socially and economically too. In several ways it is more dangerous than incurable diseases. Such disease can kill one person but drug abuse can kill the addict as well as cause a great deal of pain and suffering to his near and dear ones.
The ‘Pleasure’ experienced through drugs is very temporary. Very soon all fun gets converted into suffering and agony. It is followed by lying, cheating, stealing and ultimately, craving for the next dose. Several anti-social and anti-national activities are carried out to satisfy one’s urge.
The most unfortunate part of drug abuse is the fact that some innocent victims get entrapped into it without their knowledge. For some selfish motive, the drug is given keeping them in the dark. Several such examples have come to light. Even in some cases youngsters were drug addicts to sustain anti-social activities.
In spite of various kinds of treatments given to drug addicts by psychiatrists and psychologists, only 10 to 20 per cent can completely get rid of the self-destroying habit. For one or the other reason 80 to 90 per cent once again start resorting to drugs. Experts feel that in the near future every school going child will be offered drugs atleast once. Hence it is very essential to inform them about the hazards of drugs.
WHAT IS DRUG ADDICTION?
THE official classification systems as outlined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM III) refer to drugs as substance abuse and substance dependence. In DSM II the term dependence included both psychological dependence and physiological dependence. In DSM III dependence included only in the physiological sense and generally requires evidence of either tolerance or withdrawal symptoms.
Drugs can be divided into five groups:
- CANNBIS INDIA: This includes ‘Bhang’ and ‘Marijuana’ (charas, ganja). They do not lead to physiological dependence in the strict sense. After consumption a person feels euphoric and light-headed. He enjoys and lives in his little world. These drugs can also lead to confusional states and minimal withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, restlessness, decreased memory, nausea etc.
- MORPHINE AND HEROINE: They are pain killers and have hypnotic effect. Heroine is more potent than morphine. Similar to morphine Is pethadine. The most common drug of the modern era: brown sugar or smack is crude heroine. They are hard core drugs. Once a person is addicted to it. It is very difficult to get rid of his habit and the addict may commit any crime to satisfy his need
- SLEEPING PILLS: Slow acting and medium acting barbiturates and Diazepam (Valium, Calmpose) help in going to sleep. In the modern world of jet race and competition a large number of people are taking sleeping pills. But they can’t give natural sleep. They have side effects and after effects.
- AMPHETAMINE: The drug of the first three categories generally causes drowsiness and known as pop pills. If these are taken for a long time in a higher dose it can induce a psychotic state similar to Schizophrenia. Some students and executives who have to keep themselves awake for long hours, sometimes use this drug and in the long run they get addicted to it. After taking Amphetamine a person becomes very confident but his actions, become very fast and his mind wanders from one topic to another. As a result no one understands what he is saying or doing. Hence it is not advisable to take pop pills even during examinations.
- ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO: In modern society these are socially accepted substances but they can also be considered as drugs because they are extremely hazardous to health and it is very difficult to get rid of these addictions once the person gets habituated to them.
WHO TAKE DRUGS?
It is a wrong belief that only most of the antisocial elements abuse drugs. Most parents are also over-confident that their children will never abuse drugs. It is such a sensitive, delicate and complicated matter that many innocent children with good character are also caught up in the vicious circle of drugs.
WHY DO THEY TAKE DRUGS?
- MENTAL STRESS: It is not an exaggeration if one says that the end result of modern progress and development is mental stress. Modern man always tries to find out various shortcuts to achieve his goals. In order to overcome various types of psychological stress and mental turmoils some people seek the solution in the psychotropic drugs. These drugs create only a false sense of well-being and are more dangerous slow poison.
- DISTURBED HOME: Is spite of all the factors that have given impetus to the spread of the epidemic, a question arises as to why people succumb to drugs while others withstand the false attraction. If parents are not able to give two priceless ingredients viz. TIME and LOVE, the adolescent may seek the solution in drugs. A child who is growing in a disturbed home where parents don’t have good relationship among themselves or are busy in their own activities, is more prone to drugs. Wurmser (1974) and Khantzian (1982) both considered developmental impairments as an important factor in turning a person towards drugs.
- PEER PRESSURE: At least one among four drug addicts has his first trip due to peer pressure. The fear of losing friends make them obey the demands. Such occassional trips ultimately make them hardcore drug addicts.
- TO SHOW MATURITY: Adolescent period is full of confusion and anxiety. During this period one also feels his identity crisis. In many cases drugs are used to identify oneself as a mature person. Those college students who take drugs get more importance and are accepted in the circle. Hence to identify with the group one starts using drugs.
- EASY AVAILABILITY: Mental tension and disturbed home were existing before twenty years also but drug addiction was not so common because they were not easily available.
TOBACCO: A SLOW POISON
TOBACCO is a socially accepted drug. Although it seems to be an innocent substance it is like a slow poison. The money spent in curling tobacco related diseases is substantially more than revenue collected on tobacco.
CARCINOGENIC IN NATURE: Various analytic, studies done on tobacco smoke have revealed that it contains about 400 chemicals that are harmful to one’s health. Among these atleast 48 substances are carcinogenic in nature.
Cancer of Lips, cancer of Tongue, cancer of Oesophagus etc. are caused due to the direct heat of smoking.
Lung cancer is found to be twenty times common in smokes as compared to non smokers. The carcinogic effects of tobacco itself makes tobacco as hazardous as any other drugs.
DETERIORATION OF LIFE POWER: Tobacco does not cause physical dependence, yet, it is difficult to get rid of it. Gradually it deteriorates one’s life power ultimately leading to death.
HAZARDOUS EFFECTS ON FOETUS: Various research studies have conclusively proved that if a mother is smoking it is harmful to the developing foetus. Tobacco can also cross the placental barrier and cause its poisonous effects in the delicate parts of the foetus. Hence for the sake of the child one should stop smoking.
HARMFUL TO PASSIVE SMOKERS: The dangerous effects of tobacco does not end at harming one-self. The gas that is exhaled by a smoker is inhaled by the non smoker sitting or standing near him. This is called passive smoking. Tobacco causes 25% harmful effect to even passive smokers. Next time when some one smokes near you do remember that you are also going to get one fourth of the hazardous effects.
Tobacco has many negative points. However, if one stops taking tobacco gradually its harmful effects reduces and after two to four years his chances of getting lung cancer is the same as that of a non smoker. This is the right time that smokers make firm decision to give up the crippling habit.
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON HEALTH
- INCREASE IN ACCIDENTS: Under the influence of alcohol one’s logical thinking disturbed and he becomes over-confident. More than 60% or road and air accidents are found to occur under the influence of alcohol.
- DISTURBANCE IN FAMILY: Normally a person tries to behave in a socially accepted manner. We have specific neurons in the brain which control the socially unacceptable behaviour. Under the influence of alcohol these specific neurons become inactive. Hence a person behaves in a socially unacceptable manner. He becomes over-talkative. He says unreal things. He quarrels with friends and family members. He may even beat his children and wife. This results in loss of peace and unhappiness in the family.
- DAMAGE TO DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Alcohol causes irritation of the digestive system. It causes gastritis and peptic ulcer. In some cases pancreatitis is also found to be alcohol related. It also damages the liver cells. 10% of alcoholics suffer from cirrhosis of liver.
- BRAIN DAMAGE: The consumption of moderate to a high amount of alcohol over a period of many years can even damage one’s brain. Korsacoffs psychosis and wirnicks encephalopathy are caused due to alcoholism. Due to such diseases a person loses his memory and co-ordination of movements and becomes an invalid.
HOW TO IDENTIFY A DRUG ADDICT?
NOW-a-days parents are also anxious about the manifold increase in the abuse of drug among the youth. On one extreme many fear that their child might be taking drugs when infact he is completely innocent. And on the other extreme some parents are so busy in their social and professional work that they don’t care although there are several changes in their child’s behavior which warrants attention.
- DEMANDS MORE MONEY: All of a sudden the child will start demanding much more pocket expenses without any reasonable cause. Day by day the demand may keep on increasing, because the drugs are quite expensive and day by day the amount of the drug required keeps on increasing. He or she may sell his or her personal valuables to by the drugs.
- COMES HOME LATE: An addict regularly comes home very late. When he comes home usually he feels sleepy and without taking his meals he may go to sleep.
- PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES: A brown sugar addict grows physically weak. He becomes indifferent towards his dress and personal cleanliness. In his behavior he may become more lethargic and short-tempered.
- PINPOINT PUPIL: Brown sugar reduce the size of the pupil of the eyes. Hence the pupil of a drug addict are very small and they cannot respond then light is suddenly flashed on it.
JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS
SOCIAL STEPS TO PREVENT DRUG ADDICTION
- DETOXIFICATION: It is not a must but many drug addicts need intravenous Glucose-Saline for a few days so that physiological toxic effects of the drug can be minimised. In spite of all efforts, medical scientists are not able to invent the specific antidote to combat drug addiction. The withdrawal effects are minimised by tranquilizers and symptomatic treatment. Various painkillers and anti-diarrhoeal agents like Lomotil are useful. Clonodine, in small doses, has been tried successfully as a single drug therapy. When clonodine is used blood pressure should be watched closely. Withdrawal symptoms last only for seventy two hours.
- MOTIVATION: Once discharged from hospital almost 97% drug addicts once again start taking drugs after variable duration. How long an addict will remain free from drugs depends on his degree of motivation. Initially, only a few have a good motivation. Hence doctors and councilors have to put in a lot of efforts to motivate them. The meetings of Narcotix Anonymous can generate a confidence in them. Prayer, Meditation, Positive thinking etc. are also useful. They increase their motivation and inner will to kick the unhealthy habit. The person also receives a subtle support which is of great value to withstand the withdrawal effects.
- RELAXATION: Meditation can fill the vacuum and give them positive experience. Initially some practice is necessary to get good results but in the long run it can be very much useful.
- REHABILITATION: Once an addict is out of the hazardous habit he should be made an useful member of the society. He should be given an appropriate work so that he becomes a useful member of the society. One should not have a step-motherly attitude towards him.
RAJA YOGA: THE BASIS OF DRUG FREE SOCIETY
ALL efforts towards the prevention and control of drug abuse have the ultimate objective of re-establishing a drug free world. Raja Yoga, meditation and the other teachings of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University are of practical value in transforming the dream of ‘Drug Free World’ into a really.
MENTAL CONTROL: Raja Yoga is systematic technique of chanalising one’s mind in positive directions. The philosophy of Raja Yoga teaches that you are the master of your mind, intellect and sankars. A few months practice of Raja Yoga can bring substantial control over one’s mind. Such an individual will never become a slave to hazardous habits.
POWER OF TOLERANCE: Many people are not able to tolerate even minor pains and uncomfortable feelings. But Raja Yoga teaches that, as a stone becomes a symbol of deity by tolerating the strokes of the sculptor similarly, by remaining peaceful and pure in the midst of criticism, failure and adverse circumstances, one can become a stronger, positive and experienced person.
MASTERY ON SENSES: In the modern world due to the mis-identification of the self with the physical body, most people seek temporary peace and happiness out of the external things which are beyond one’s control. Due to such an external locus of control, some people unfortunately take recourse to drug abuse.
Raja Yoga teaches that you are concient, self-luminous, eternal and an immortal soul and you are the king of your senses. Once a person gains this consciousness, dependence on drugs is out of question.
GROUP SUPPORT: If a drug addict tries to free himself from the crutches of drugs, the other group members can never accepted that one member my leave the group. Hence they put in all efforts to bring him back into their group. In a number of ways they try to weaken his morale to remain free from drugs.
At Raja Yoga centres, exactly the opposite phenomenon takes place. All members who identify themselves with the Raja Yoga group are completely free from any type of addicting substance. Hence when a drug addict learns Raja Yoga he receives tremendous group support. He also identifies himself with the group of non-addicts. Thus it becomes very easy to come out of this vicious circle.
In order to take the full advantage of Raja Yoga, it should be made a part and parcel of the secondary school curriculum, so that children become morally strong with positive values.