The dangers of drug abuse

After hearing of the death of my three young brothers, I was deeply shocked and my tears would not end. I prayed for the departed souls, as I could not do anything else but to do pray and bewail.

I thought it would be the appropriate to make people, especially our New Generation, aware of the hazard related to drug addiction with the help of social media.Addiction to drugs in our area, today is the reason for many deaths. We need to do whatever we can to knock down the rate of people dying directly or indirectly due to addiction.

Drug abuse is one of the most common problems in teenagers today. Drugs are being used the most between the years of preteen and the adolescent ones. During these years, teens feel a need to experiment with drugs because they think it’s the cool thing to do. Also, movies and T.V show a lot of drugs being abused, like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin.

“Every cool person smokes”, their friends may say, “If you want to hang out with cool people, you must smoke too. With the pressure of close friends and with the urge of becoming like them, it is hard to say no.

Drug addiction mostly begins when a person feels that he or she does not “fit in”. This is a problem they may have. They feel it can’t be solved in any other way. They will see that the only solution to their problem is taking drugs. Once someone gets addicted to a drug, it is extremely hard for them to quit.

Drugs will pollute children’s minds in three ways. It will affect their behavior, self-concept, and attitude towards others. The first way drug use will affect a person is that their behavior will be different from what it used to be before. When a person becomes addicted to a drug, there is the need to hide it from their family. Sooner or later, they may feel a discomfort about such dishonesty and guilt they may have towards their family members. They may feel that they should be separated and secluded from everyone. The deeper the person is getting addicted the more strangely they will react and then become more depressed. They will be willing to sacrifice everything. They will steal from everyone including their family, work, and friends in an attempt to get more drugs. Their addiction is ruling their lives and it is very difficult if not possible at all to live without what they need- DRUGS. When one thinks of addiction the first thing that might come to their mind is drugs or alcohol.

Drug addiction is a problem that has been increasing immensely in our society. Drug addictions will hinder or restrain us from accomplishing goals or dreams in life. People sometimes feel they are too bright, too powerful, too much in control of themselves to become addicted. Addiction can trap anyone. It will lead to harming one’s body, causing problems in family structure, and contribute to the delinquency in society. The sooner people seek help for their drug addiction problems, the better the chances to re- gain control of their life. All in all one must say that abstinence is the safest way to live a longer and healthier life.

We are greatly influenced by people around us. One may also try drugs just to fit in a social group, even if there are no intentions of using drugs. Adolescents can try out different roles and observe the reactions of their friends to their behavior and their appearance. One may do it just to be considered “cool” by the group. There may also be other reasons why people turn to using drugs. Emotional distress, such as personal or family problems, having low self-esteem, like losing a close one, losing a job, or having no friends, lack of perspective in life, and environmental stress are all possible factors to start using drugs.

Actually official instances alone cannot force the addicts to get admitted to rehabilitation centers nor do they have the resources to establish such a large number of institutions. The state can help by importing technical services, information, skills and donors to let private health service providers do what is needed. If the government is not taking strong steps then what we should do for our coming generations? I think this is the proper time to take a strong stand against drug users and dealers. If we do not take action now then our new generations’ life will be ruined due to drugs.

Drug Addiction is the menace of drugs – it can be fought. Education is the first battlefield. Children need to be told about drugs at home and in school. People need to become aware of the effects so that they hopefully can avoid this problem. A second approach is to increase police manpower and create effective laws to stop dealers. However the main target should be the people at risk, the possible users: Families and counselors need to talk to children and people.

Parents need to look closely at their children and help them to become responsible and strong personalities. Above all worthwhile jobs and housing are also needed to give people a role in society and a perspective in life. We can clearly see the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) and the Islamic view regarding intoxicants.

In Hadith, the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) has described intoxicants as;

1. The key to all evils.
2. The head of all errors and lapses.
3. The most terrible of major sins.
4. The mother of all atrocities.
5. The mother of all evils.

From a religious point of view it is as intoxicating as wine, it destroys the mind, causes forgetfulness, causes to reveal secrets, destroys shame, incubates dissipation, quells self respects, obliterates intelligence, prevents salaah and instigates towards Haraam, forbidden things. As a Muslim we all know what our Prophet described, despite knowing the harms of drugs we are still using them, Now is the proper time to take a strong step, act as soon as possible: Drugs are Haraam. It is necessary to abstain from them. They ruin people’s lives physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and money wise. If anyone is involved in drugs he should stop immediately and seek help. May Allah help and protect us all. Ameen.