Feature

Have You Ever Really Thought About It?

Zarin Zeba Khan

It is easy to ignore the reality, but difficult to accept the fact and change it. We hide the truth from each other because we are scared to speak. I think that a truth that draws a tear is better than a lie that draws a smile. In the last few years, hundreds of articles have been published on drug addiction in Bangladesh. We are familiar with yaba (methamphetamine), weed and other types of drug abuse. However, we still choose to remain ignorant and prefer not to go for discussion. Why?

The rapid spread of drug addiction indicates that we are the ignorant people who fail to protect our society. We have the tendency to protect our image by repeating “I am not into drugs.” But I am sure that your friend, or someone from your family, or someone you care for is doing drugs and you are being ignorant. You definitely want to help that person but do not exactly know how. Your ignorance is keeping up that person in to the darkness. It is easy to criticize someone but difficult to correct them. Nobody wants to destroy his or her life; nobody wants to be called an addict. Most of the people who try out drugs do not even have any clue how addictive it is. It is a trap where your beloved one falls and gets stuck there. It is your responsibility to lend a helping hand to the people who need it.

The first step towards change is awareness, the second step is acceptance and the final step is success. First we need to be aware of the symptoms, effects and how to deal with them. If we do not know then we ca not help. We are here not to talk about problems but we are here to let you know what you need to do as a friend, or as parents. It is often the situation where parents do not have any clue about his child's drug problem until and unless it's too late. The teenagers are curious to try out drugs, and it is easily accessible. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the adults to create awareness among the younger ones, about drugs and tell them that it is not a fashionable, or a smart thing to do, but rather a stupid decision that can lead to destruction. Here is some information about the two main drugs that are increasingly becoming popular in our country:

Effect of Yaba Marijuana How parents can help
Yaba is a powerful central nervous system stimulant with longer-lasting effects than those of cocaine.

Insomnia
Irritability and aggression
Damage to the small blood vessels in the brain
Increased alertness, wakefulness, and physical activity
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and body temperature
Tremors
Hypertension
Hallucinations
Psychotic episodes
Paranoid delusions
Violent behavior
Hyperthermia and convulsions
Agitation, anxiety, and nervousness
Mental confusion and memory loss
Psychosis similar to schizophrenia (characterized by paranoia, picking at the skin, self absorption, and visual and auditory hallucinations)

Marijuana use increases the heart rate as much as 50 percent. Young people who smoke marijuana heavily over long periods of time can become dull, slow moving, and inattentive.

These "burned-out" users are sometimes so unaware of their surroundings that they do not respond when friends speak to them, and they do not realize they have a problem.

His/her self-destructive behavior can be hard to understand. Why continue doing something that's hurting you? Why is it so hard to stop?
The answer lies in the brain. Repeated drug use alters the braincausing long-lasting changes to the way it looks and functions. These brain changes interfere with your ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs. These changes are also responsible, in large part, for the drug cravings and compulsion to use that make addiction so powerful.

Educate your children about the harmful effects of drugs. While you're not in control over the decisions your children. When they do get exposed to drugs, you're rest assured that they have right knowledge to make the correct decisions.

Notice the sudden changes in your children behavior, or lifestyle.
Give them a three fair chance to leave drugs. But urine test should be must every four days for at least three months. If he slips again and again take to someone professional.

Parents must always keep track of their children.
Go for family vacation. It will be a change of place, and he/she will be out of touch with his old drug abuser circle. Make sure he is not taking anything with him while you go for vacation.

The soonest you realize that your child, a friend, or a family member is doing drugs, do the best you can to reason out with him or her. Anyone who uses drugs once, even just to “experience” a mild high, has the potential to become a drug addict. There are thousands of people who want to quit but they don't know how to help themselves.

So, below is given the solution if you want to quite drugs by yourself.

Thinking about change: help yourself….
* Keep track of your drug use, including when and how much you use. This will give you a better sense of the role the addiction is playing in your life.

* List the pros and cons of quitting, as well as the costs and benefits of continuing your drug abuse.

* Consider the things that are important to you, such as your partner, your kids, your career, or your health. How does your drug use affect those things?

* Talk it over with someone you trust. Ask the person how he or she feels about your drug use.

* Ask yourself if there's anything preventing you from changing? What are some things that could help you make the change?

Preparing for change: 5 key steps to addiction recovery
1. Remind yourself of the reasons you want to change.

2. Think about your past attempts at quitting, if any. What worked? What didn't?

3. Set specific, measurable goals, such as a quit date or limits on your drug use.

4. Remove reminders of your addiction from your home and workplace.

5.Tell friends and family that you're quitting and ask for their support.

Drug addiction treatment and recovery step 5: Keep triggers and cravings in check
While getting sober from drugs is an important first step, it's only the beginning of the recovery process. Once sober, the brain needs time to recover and rebuild connections that have changed while addicted. During this time, drug cravings can be intense. You can support your continued sobriety by making a conscious effort to avoid people, places, and situations that trigger the urge to use:

* Make a break from old drug buddies. Don't make the mistake of hanging out with old friends who are still doing drugs. Surround yourself with people who support your sobriety, not those who tempt you to slip back into old, destructive habits.

* Avoid bars and clubs, even if you don't have a problem with alcohol. Drinking lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment, which can easily lead to relapse. Drugs are often readily available and the temptation to use can be overpowering. Also avoid any other environments and situations that you associate with drug use.
* Be up front about your history of drug use when seeking medical treatment. If you need a medical or dental procedure done, be up front about your history and find a provider who will work with you in either prescribing alternatives or the absolute minimum medication necessary. You should never feel shamed or humiliated about previous drug use or denied medication for pain; if that happens, find another provider.

* Use caution with prescription drugs.
Stay away from prescription drugs with the potential for abuse or use only when necessary and with extreme caution.

Coping with drug cravings
Sometimes craving cannot be avoided, and it is necessary to find a way to cope:

* Get involved in some distracting activity. Reading, a hobby, going to a movie, exercising (jogging, biking) are good examples of distracting activities. Once you get interested in something else, you'll find the urges go away.

Another effective response to craving is eating.

* Talk it through. Talk to friends or family members about craving when it occurs. Talking about cravings and urges can be very helpful in pinpointing the source of the craving. Also, talking about craving often helps to discharge and relieve the feeling and will help restore honesty in your relationship. Craving is nothing to feel bad about.
* Challenge and change your thoughts. When experiencing a craving, many people have a tendency to remember only the positive effects of the drug and forget the negative consequences. Therefore, you may find it helpful to remind yourself that you really won't feel better if you use and that you stand to lose a lot. Sometimes it is helpful to have these benefits and consequences listed on a small card that you keep with you.

Drugs can severely alter a person's physical, mental, and emotional state, so much so that people become completely changed after even a short time of drug dependence. Not only does a drug addict pose a danger to himself or herself, but his or her relationships with other people are also changed for the worse. Get you, friends, and family actively involved in drug awareness and drug education campaigns.(School of Business , Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB)