Feature

Yaba, the cheap drug turns expensive

Tanzil Ahmed

Hey Mates,
Hope you are all doing fine.
Our recent drug assailant is "Yaba". What a mind blowing name ain't it !!
Now I wonder why so many people were not aware of this drug, and they are wishing to give it a try.
To be honest some of my friends are wishing to take it. It doesn't mean that they are addicted but I think its harmful.
I should appreciate the actions taken by the current government. And I was surprised to know the process of price hiking of this adulterated thing( tk 14 to tk 500 ). Man if you are selling it in high price please sell the original one !! I am not here to repeat the whole story again.
It’s a social disadvantage of us that here alcohols, prostitution are illegal. Ya I agree that these are bad things, but my point is - when these things are legal with some rules and everything is under proper laws, government could get some taxes from it as a social benefit.
And in my point of view it will be much preferable to the general people as we can see the examples in other countries also.
But my advice to the people, please say no to drugs and don't go for it.
It doesn't matter from which family you are from. May be you are rich, may be you are poor... But the fact is you are from the same ethnic group where people hate the wrong doers.
Show some respect to your own peple. As a nation builders of tomorrow we should prepare ourselves with confidence.

(Student of MMU)

Mahjabeen Ahmad sends her message through Star Campus

Ridwan Karim

The cocoon of blissful ignorance has fallen apart, and now there can be no looking back. The alarming details regarding Yaba and many other nerve stimulating drugs have finally been exposed transforming a taboo subject into a heated topic of discussion.

Mrs. Mahjabeen Ahmad, Associate Professor and Chairperson of the BBA program of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka, shared her insight on this topic of much debate. She struck at the very root cause of the drugs crisis and pointed out the only defense that can be used successfully against a monster that has infiltrated our system completely.

Madam, before the recent revelations made by the media, how aware were you about the threat posed by nerve stimulating drugs like Yaba, amphetamines etc.?

In reply, she said that she was aware of the existence of such drugs and the fact that they are abused by some members of the affluent class. But she was not aware that the degree of prevalence of these drugs was so high. Indeed, the most frightening aspect of the entire situation is that even school going children have been discovered to have access to these drugs.

Do you believe that IBA is immune from this 'drug disease,' which has grown into epidemic proportions?

The Chairperson of the BBA program admitted that she cannot provide assurance that all students of IBA are free from the vicious grasp of drugs, though she certainly hopes that this indeed is the case. She is, however, optimistic about the role that can be played by all teachers in combating the drug monster. In her capacity as a chairperson, she makes herself readily available for students seeking advice about various problems. She states that even listening to the concerns expressed by the students can help assuage their anxieties and worries that might otherwise lead them to drugs. She firmly believes that teachers should strive to have friendly relationships with their students and offer guidance when necessary.

“We should try out everything at least once, to mitigate our curiosity” is the popular opinion held by this generation. Are you concerned about the existence of such a view?

Without any hesitation whatsoever she affirmed that she is indeed concerned about such ideas being used by young people to justify drug abuses. She inquires as to why these same principles are not applied to trying out something creative and productive.

She urges all the students to remember that the temporary thrill of crossing the line cannot validate the long-term harm that student is inflicting on his/her physical and emotional well being, as well as the distress he/she causing his/her family. The most damaging prospect of trying out any prohibited substance for the first time is the havoc wreaked on ones value system. Because once a person crosses the ethical boundary, the resistance against forbidden pleasures crumbles down. This makes it far easier for the person to take drugs for the second time than the first time, and so forth - opening the path towards addiction.

She also pointed out that no one can really be sure about exactly how much control he/she exerts over the desire to have narcotic substances because of certain psychological and biological differences among individuals..

It seems that doing well in your exams, belonging to a good family or even having a promising future no longer acts as a deterrent to drug abuses. Then why do you think the young generation is so inclined towards drugs?

In reply, she emphasized that there is only one reason behind drugs abuses becoming so rampant in our society. All other causes can be traced back to this root cause. And that is the lack of parental supervision and guidance. She maintains that parents nowadays do not give enough time to their children and fail to understand that their children need love & affection. And because children see their parents attending other affairs than giving them time, they grow up with the misconception that they are not important enough. Children always look up to their parents for guidance, and they constantly search for avenues through which they will gain attention and acceptance. Sadly, drug peddlers often fill the void left by the parents.

Sometimes, parents give their children extravagant amount of pocket money just to compensate for their inability to give them some time. This is probably why even school going children can afford to buy drugs nowadays. Another woeful negligence on the part of the parents is that they simply do not try to monitor what their children are exposed to when they watch TV or browse the internet. Even in the western world parents enforce set TV hours to maintain discipline in the home. But such a concept is virtually non-existent in our country, and from a very little age school-going children are exposed to the damaging influence of TV day in and day out.

So, now that we know how the crisis got started, what can we do about it?

She believes that punitive measures by the authority can only stem the problem for a while, but it will never be able to wipe out the drug disease completely. The only defense that can be used to overcome this many-faced monster is greater effort from the parents. Each family has to take responsibility for their own happiness. Parents have to be more understanding and loving, and have to make sure that their children feel more comfortable in expressing their problems. Citing her own relationship with her daughter, she says that loving attention as well as strict guidance is what children need. Without either, children are destined to become confused as to what is right and what is wrong.

She also believes that religious teachings can work as an anchor and can prevent young people from straying away. Sadly, most affluent parents are not interested in giving their children sound religious education as they are in providing good education. But she believes that a combination of both can create responsible citizens with high moral values. All religions teach their followers the value of resisting vile temptations, and parents should try to get this message across.

She also urges students to try and develop closer bonds with their parents. Parents love their children unconditionally, sacrifice for them without a second thought and would never turn away from them. These are characteristics of the most loyal and finest friends that anyone can hope for. That is why she encourages greater interaction in the family. Stronger family ties will eliminate misunderstandings and prevent young people from hurting their parents who care for them the most. Only this can be the most effective barrier against the lure of drugs.

(Student of IBA, DU)