Pubdate: Tue, 16 Aug 2005
Source: Khaleej Times (UAE)
Copyright: 2005 Khaleej Times
Contact:  http://khaleejtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/996

TACKLING THE DRUGS MENACE

Drugs, more than other kinds of addictions, have a way of getting
around human behaviour. They can turn the most docile of human beings
into creatures of aggression, and push them into despicable acts, as
happened in the case of a 20-year-old youth here.

Numbed by hash and heroin, the lad beat up his dad to pulp, all for
waking him up to go to the mosque to offer Juma prayers. The poor man
suffered fractures on his skull and couldn't attend work for three
months. As for the lad, he is cooling his heels behind bars, and
hopefully has learnt his lesson.

The authorities need to adopt a multi-pronged approach to tackle this
menace -- tighten measure to check smuggling of narcotics into the
country by having in place deterrent which really discourage such
illegal operations, launch awareness campaigns right from the school
level and have effective de-addiction centres.

Usually, such addictions start as an experiment reinforced by a false
sense of being macho, among teenagers. There is this misplaced
confidence that one can always kick up the habit when one wants to,
and this draws them deeper and deeper into its clutches until it's too
late, well almost. Once this stage is reached, it is very difficult to
pull back, since nicotine or chemical has already taken controls of
one's system.

While dealing with this problem, one should keep in mind that no one
is born an addict, just as no one is born a criminal. A lot of factors
go into the making of a person's outlook -- upbringing, social
exposure, education, friends circle etc. To this extent, parents would
do well to keep tabs on their children's behaviour and movements, but
with the sensitivity and understanding that the age demands, and
ensure that they don't veer onto the wrong path.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin