Eastern Drugs meet their Western Counterparts

Health Hazards | July 31, 2010 | Share

India is progressing towards steady development. The baggage of which has been the keen desire of generation-X to ape the west. The slogan – east meets west has brought with it, various evils, the king of which being DRUGS. Drugs and allied attractions have always been a part of the socio-economic backdrop providing relief when need be or simply wrecking the innocence of the mind. The innate desire of human beings to unwind and feel stimulated or euphoric has been the root cause of substance abuse since time immemorial. Desk jobs, accompanied with a flamboyant lifestyle has pushed the people with a modern mindset to indulge in activities, far considered derogatory and slanderous for the human body.

HISTORY
A majority of people throughout history have practiced recreational drug use in some form or the other like nicotine, tobacco, caffeine and alcohol. However, despite its proscription as an illegal drug, marijuana still remains historically popular. Various urban jazz musicians, post World War II started using marijuana and other drugs. Their clubs were often frequented by a new generation of youngsters who looked up to them for inspiration and direction, and hence got enchanted by these illegal attractions. Realization dawned on them that most of the empirical allegations made against marijuana by the authorities were actually not true. It did not particularly cause hysterical or violent behavior and was not that addictive. Its lasting effects were few and it did not push one to the edge of oblivion, due to excessive use, as assumed by the administration. This finding created immense doubts in the minds of youngsters about marijuana and created a rather rampant climate of illegal drug experimentation that has lasted till the 21st century.

CAUSES
As we can see, the use and abuse of drugs is as old as civilizations itself. It manifests itself through various forms of experimentation starting with people in their teen years. The need to belong, combined with peer influence, is so strong that it convinces youngsters to let go of their inhibitions and inculcate habits of drinking and smoking just to be cool or popular. Many a times, recreational drug use turns into drug abuse leading to dire consequences. The individual engaging in drug abuse may start using drugs secretly, instead of socially, and become more estranged and elusive.

SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of drug abuse are numerous. They could be physical or behavioral. Talking loudly, weight gain or loss, glassy, bloodshot eyes, loss of interest, laughing hysterically followed by sleepiness, are some of the classic symptoms of marijuana use. Excessive alcohol dependency can cause dilated pupils and clumsiness. Aggression, anxiety, euphoria, hyperactivity, irritability, bizarre behavior and mood swings are some of the common symptoms of excessive drug abuse.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Living up to the worthy expectations becomes difficult for the youth especially in the contemporary world, forcing them to inculcate such hazardous habits. By doing so they get caught in a no-mans land of confusion and fuzzy self-image. The biggest impediment in the way of absolution from drug abuse is the feeling of self-denial. The urge to use drugs is so strong that the mind finds many ways to rationalize this act. Denial is an unconscious defense mechanism and it has to be obliterated in order to move towards a fast recovery. Ultimately, admittance of this infliction is the best move forward. Although it takes stupendous courage to do so and the person involved may feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with the withdrawal symptoms, it needs to be done. Only then can a person irrevocably move towards the stage of self-recovery. A blithe attitude towards this problem is uncalled for and so is shunning a person who is involved in substance abuse. We need to have a broad mindset and stop this activity from becoming a malignant curse.

Tina Jindal