The Impacts of Drugs on Young Generation of Bangladesh

Cigarette, A common drug in the world.

World Health Organization (WHO) defines Drug; Drug is a chemical substance of synthetic, semi synthetic or natural origin intended for diagnostic, therapeutic or palliative use or for modifying physiological functions of man and animal. Drug impacts directly influence the economic and social aspects of a country and physically to a human body. In Bangladesh it is a growing national concern. There are millions of drug-addicted people in Bangladesh and most of them are young and in the age range of 18 to 30. These drug addicted people are from all strata of the society. It shows that the country is going to be transformed into potential users of drugs with the rapid increase in the number of addicts.

Objectives:
1. To identify the major reasons of drug addiction;

2. To identify the key role players in drug business in Bangladesh;

3. To find out the impacts of drugs and drug addiction;

4. To find out the remedial measures for coming back from addiction to normal state;

Impacts:
The most common drugs used in Bangladesh are stimulant drugs. More and more people are beginning to use them - middle aged people, old people, housewives and young girls, University´s student, even high school students (especially in English Medium student). These teens are ignorant about drugs. Some of them can not tell the difference between stimulants and marijuana. At first they put the drugs into drinks. They don't even know which drugs are dangerous. It's easy for teenagers to get the drugs. They can buy them from friends who don't think it is wrong to sell them, or they can get them from some foreigners. They buy drugs called "Speed, tiger, yaba" they knew it´s a type of Drinks or tablets which give refreshment to study and mind, which they don't think is dangerous. They don't realize that it really is dangerous. There are a larger number of young using drugs. According to the police- "In the last 3 or 2 years many more teens have been arrested for using drugs than ever before".

A drug abuser can undergo different stages of tasting apart from normal lifestyle in personally and socially or nationally;

1. Drug abuse can decay normal human senses through deep feelings;

2. It creates different types of excitement both in the body and mind;

3. Finally, it makes a person passionate to drugs;
4. In the long run the user has to increase the dose day by day;

The impact of drugs has some stages, which effects in personal and social life:

1. Initial stage;
2. Pre-mature stage;
3. Mature stage and;
4. Dangerous stage;
5. Economical & Social stage;

Initial stage:
(testing impact): This is the first stag of drug impacts. At first, a person starts to take drug without concerning his body. At the early stage he takes it just normally, and gets the ordinary happiness, which makes him feel better. Sometimes, he wants to touch heavenly excitement and dreams himself as a floating constituent in the sky. This is the first stage of drug impact. Amateurs are in this group. They take drug once or twice a week with their friends or seniors in their locality, who are already addicted. He collects it and processes it to take.

Pre-mature stage:
(way on the crime): In this stage, drugs become a habit, and the abuser wants more. Feeling better s/he tries to increase the dosage drugs. It is taken at least 4-5 times a week. This is the primary stage for abusers in becoming addicted. At the initial stage they can easily manage or collect the money for purchasing. They collect money from their family, and sometimes from other sources. They take drugs with their friends. After a few days they need to take more and become dependent on it both mentally and physically. The sudden need for excess money,

1. Involves them in criminal acts;
2. Hijacking;
3. Picketing etc.
and they feel thrilled to do it.

Mature stage:
After the pre-mature stage abusers become seriously addicted. They have to take it every day, after a certain period. In maximum of cases it is taken from evening to night time. For that, they are busy all day long in collecting the expenditure of drug. They need much more money for it and sometimes they turn against the law. Many discontinue their education after failing to concentrate on any kind of discipline.

They fully divert to out of control:
1. They forget social protocol;
2. Making violence in society;
3. Always remain bad tempered;
4. Feel they are always in the right;
5. They do not want to hear any advice;
6. Count themselves as very aware and competent;
7. Sometimes they feel frustrated ;
8. And even lose the will to live;

Decaying stage:
After mature stage most of the abusers stay on the verge of decaying. It means gradually their lives crumble. Gradually after a few hours they have to take it, otherwise their body system stops. In that situation the abuser loses human characteristics and behaves like a monster.

1. They can realize, how imbalanced they are;
2. They lose taste for food;
3. At this stage they become fully dependent on drug;

4. They have no sense to evaluate good or bad;
5. They lose interest in normal male/female yeamings;

6. And finally one day they fully surrender to drugs;

which leads them to their graves;

Economical & Social impacts:
The average cost of drugs per person were from $1.9 to $3.1 per day or from $707 to $1135 per year. The economic impact of drug abuse included cost of drug itself, health care expenditure, lost productivity, and other impacts on society such as crimes and accidents. The patterns and cost of drug abuse were investigated among 996 drug abusers some were admitted to a drug dependence treatment centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Drug addicted in percentage:
Peoples type Addicted in percentage
1. Male 93.9 %
2. Female ( in Dhaka city) 20.6 %
3. Unmarried 64.8 %
4. Either students or unemployed (youth generation) 56.1 %

5. Smokers 95.4 %
6. Influenced by friends 85.7 %
7. Addicted to codeine-containing cough syrup 65.8 %

8. Addicted to more than one drug 64.3 %
9. Took drugs in groups 65.8 %
10. A history of unprotected sex 63.8 %
Source: Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 2004 (Vol. 22) (No. 1) 98-99

Impacts and reactions of drug:
The body relaxes and the mind feels fresh after taking drugs. If an addict cannot take it, peevish temperament occurs and he doesn´t wish to work or even talk. S/he feels fever, headache, itches in his body and sometimes vomiting also occurs. Most of the students of this group are frustrated and unhappy in their study life.

Reasons for being addicted to drugs
1. Easy access to drugs;
2. Unemployment problem/economic insolvency;
3. Surrounding atmosphere;
4. Estranged in love;
5. Mental stress due to family problem;
Sources of money for buying drugs
1. From own income;
2. From pocket money;
3. Loan from friends, family members;
4. Collect money by criminal activities like hijacking, extortion, etc.

Persons involved in drug business/smuggling
Respondents opinion:
1. Some elites in society;
2. Some political leaders/so-called student leaders;

3. A syndicate of smugglers;
4. Some members of the police/BDR/member of Arms forces;

Types of drugs found in Bangladesh:
Now days the teenager and youths are use Sleeping pills as a drug. Sleeping pills are randomly being used since they can be easily bought from any nearby medicine shop/pharmacy and in most cases without doctor´s prescription. These are: Enoctine, Seduxene, Phenergan, Stemetil, Laxatine.

Drugs are separated into two categories –
Soft drugs:
1. Alcohol;
2. Cigarettes;
3. Marijuana;
4. Glue, Hash etc.
Hard drugs:
1. Ecstasy;
2. Speed;
3. Amphetamine;
4. Cocaine;
There are many types of drugs available use in Bangladesh:

1. Opium:
2. Heroin;
3. Phensidyl;
4. Tidijesic;
5. Pethidine;
6. Cannabis:
7. Ganja;
8. Chorosh;
9. Bhang;
10. Sexual pill:
11. Yaba;
12. Vayagra;
13. Sleeping pill:
14. Tranquilizer;
15. Seduxene;
16. Diazapam;
17. Dexpotent;

Recommendations:
It has been found that many people, especially the youths are teenager to get rid of drugs. But unfortunately they can hardly find any way out. The departments of narcotics control, police, Arms forces etc. either do not work or/and even some how are related to drug smuggling/business. According to the discussion with the concerned people such as drug abusers, guardians, teachers, policemen and related persons in the drug business, it is clear that behavioral modification of the abusers is not enough to check the spread of drug taking and drug trafficking in Bangladesh. The concerned people gave the following suggestions in order to free Bangladesh of drugs:

1. Concerned administration should be reshuffled. Culprits, those who are hidden in the police, Arms forces and narcotics control department, must be punished. At the same time, rewards may be declared for good performance. It is obvious that, drugs business in Bangladesh would fall rapidly if border-crossing areas can be checked properly.

2. Leaders of social institutions like schools, colleges, University, clubs etc. should come forward to build resistance against drugs.

3. The addicts, while talking with the investigators sought treatment to wipe out the negative effects of drugs.

Conclusion:
Drug addiction has grabbed not only the youth but it has grabbed the social leaders also. In the present situation, we need to strengthen family and social values and religious ethics in order to maintain a stable and drug-free society. We believe that there is a lot to do to stop this social malaise now before another dangerous symptom appears which AIDS is. After doing all these we can get our drug-free Bangladesh.

Reference:
• Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 2004 (Vol. 22) (No. 1) 98-99, by Mahbubur Rahman, School of Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate, Japan.
• International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research.
• Gulf Times, Sunday 13 January, 2008,
• Seminar about Drug Addiction in Bangladesh, Health Care and Epidemiology,Faculty of Medicine.
• Importance of health research in South Asia, Ritu Sadana, scientist1, Carol D'Souza, policy analyst1, Adnan A Hyder, assistant professor.
• Prothom Alo
• The Daily Star
• http://www.topics-mag.com/edition01/drugs-yuki.htm
• TWELVE by Nick McDonell.
• Comments of students from Chittagong, The Daily Star, November 04, 2007
• Seminar on ´Drug Policy in Bangladesh´ at Dhaka Sheraton hotel.
• Scholars Bangladesh