Beware of Drugs

“Even a little intoxication may end in a great fall”
There is scarcely a crime before me that is not directly or indirectly, caused by intoxications.
Everybody is aware of the fact that the young people of today are the adults of tomorrow. The world today offers remarkable opportunities to young. To realize their potential the young move about and travel all across the world usually unaware of the pitfalls like the threat of drugs use and abuse and HIV/Aids that can have dangerous consequences on their health and well being .
Right from the moment the children enter the adolescent period of life, they are consumed by curiosity and the wish and will to explore the unknown. Adolescents and young people at this stage of life are trying to form and establish an identity for themselves and are confused about the ways of the world. They are at a distinct disadvantage and do not know what to believe and what not to believe. They need the support, unconditional love, understanding, encouragement, knowledge and skills all through their growing years to help them lead successful, healthy and fulfilling lives. Their energies need to be properly channelised so that they can grow up into healthy, responsible and balanced adults in possession of the courage to exploit their potential to the optimum level.
UNODC, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched a project, “Empowering Communities to prevent Drugs and HIV”, to prevent the onset of drug use among young people across the country by providing them with accurate knowledge, enabling them to make positive and informed choices. As part of this project, a national awareness Campaign has been launched under the brand name” I Decide” or ‘ Yeh mera Faisla’.
How could our school being a socially conscious and responsible family lag behind. Our school has also establish the “I Decide Club” in the school targeting young people before the start using substances, discouraging those young people who are already experimenting or using drugs, strengthening protective factors and weakening risk factors , teaching life skills to young children to help them face challenges and obstacles in life.
The Need for I Decide Club
· Increased availability of licit substances
· Change in illicit drug use pattern
· Decline in age of first use
· Current prevention effort are minimal
· It is not recognized as a public health issue
· At the community level, no one wants to ’own’ the problem.

Cause of Drug Abuse among Adolescents
· Peer, Pressure
· Fear of isolation or rejection by friends.
· Fear of being made fun of by friends and others
· Fear of being termed a weak person
· Curiosity and experimentation
· Myths about social experience
· Taking drugs indicates high , social and economic status
· Makes one superior to others
· Makes one feel confident and independent
· Use, offering and selling of drugs by elders in front of children
· Easy availability of drugs at home
· Family dysfunction
· Parents covering up children’s bad habits
· Escapism
· Boredom
· Depression
· Emotional insecurity
· Lack of discipline and self control

Recognition of victims
· Frequent use of washroom
· Restlessness
· Seek isolation

Why is Prevention Important?
· While some take drugs there are many who don’t. The majority must stay that way.
· Prevention helps people make informed and healthy choices
· Experimenting can be dangerous as drug use habits stay
· No one can predict addiction
· An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of curve
· Success rate of treatment is low
· There are not enough beds in the hospitals
· The treatment is long and expensive