By Zeshan Anjum
“Tu shaheen hai parwaz hai kaam tera,
Tere aage aasmaan abhi aur bhi hain”
If today Dr. Allama Iqbal would have been alive he may have regretted his couplet about the youngsters of his country. What was his imagination about us, youths but alas we are heading toward our dead end?
Few years before this evil practice was just limited to some well-settled drugs mafias, but nowadays we are surrounded by drug peddlers and addicts. Every now and then stories surfaces on the internet, we ourself witness many cases. Alcohol consumption, smoking, and tobacco are like having juice or soft drinks every second youth is involved in such practices.
In lost 3 years I had lost three friends of mine, one of them recently whom I had never seen smoking a cigarette. You may observe how well settled and organized is the chain of drug mafias, paddlers, and consumers.
Recently a video was surfaced on the internet from Rajouri in which a 14-year boy was seen unconscious after taking drugs. He was injected in the skull. This made me think that do we hope for one more generation. I don’t think so if some hard steps would not be taken.
If we talk about Jammu division only.
MAIN DRUG ROUTES AND STATION IN JAMMU DIVISION.
National highway, Lakhanpur, Narwal truck adda, etc despite this one can easily see this on Tawi bridge how youngsters are involved with so-called babas. Beside this, every bus stand in Jammu division is the hub for narcotics criminals. Mainly that stands that are linked with Kashmir transport like Rajouri, Thannamandi, Surankote via Mughal road.
This is very surprising that the cases of drug peddling raised unexceptionally in Rajouri in last 6 years after the opening of the Mughal road. When the Mughal road was thrown open for general traffic this became a safe route for the paddlers as there was not much security on that route even today also it is it lacks security checks. This involved local residents and transporters (generally) in this process as it was an easy moneymaking process.
Secondly many students of these areas taken admissions in others states of country l mainly Punjab and Himachal where this evil practice is already well settled.
Medically
The drugs like opioids suppress both emotional and suffering component of pain and pain no longer is unpleasant or distorting i.e.; patient tolerates pain better. However, patient in pain or anxiety and especially addicts, perceive it as pleasurable floating sensation it gives ‘kick’ or ‘rush’ which is intensely pleasurable. Due to this patient begins to take the drug more often leading to drug dependency and because of this, stoppage of the drug is not only the matter of will power for him. Earlier morphine abuse was higher in middle age but now younger individuals are also opting for it. In case the addict starts to stop the drug or does not take the drug it leads to Lacrimation, Sweating, Yawning, Anxiety, Fear, Restlessness, Mydriasis, Tremor, Insomnia, Diarrhea, Dehydration, a rise in BP, Palpation and rapid weight loss.
{By Qurat Ul Aein (Medical student)}
ROLE OF RELIGION AND RELIGIOUS HEADS.
Along with religious sermons and duties of women toward the husband, etc they need to focus on sermons on drug deaddiction. They must address gatherings how drugs harm once health, why is drug prohibited in religious books. Etc etc. but alas our religious thekedaars are busy in manipulating concepts of religions, they only teach which is beneficial to them directly or indirectly.
ROLE OF PARENTS
A drug addict is also need to be treated like the patient of all other dieses, like cancer etc. Parents have to understand them and have to help them by consulting psychiatrist, doctors and enrolling them to drug deaddiction centers. Parents are responsible for the attitude and behavior of their child and they have to admit that. A drug addict also needs care, love, and respect to overcoming. It is not in his willpower to get out of that. Usually, parents start pressurizing and punishing them, that may increase their addiction or dependency on drugs.
Other than this they must keep fallowing things in mind.
1)Keep eyes on the time table of youngsters.
2)Discuss their problems if they seem upset.
3) Be friendly with them.
5)Notice their activities and follow them secretly to their colleges and schools.
6) Notice their friend cycle.
7) Spend time with them join at least one meal a day with them. Etc.
ROLE OF SOCIETY.
Society plays an important role in eradicating this menace. What you have to do as a citizen is to respect and treat softly a drug addict.
1) Keep eyes on such buildings and places which mainly remain empty or unoccupied.
2) Whenever you are out for your work always keep in mind that u are on a job to hunt such criminals and addicts which are involved in such practices. Maybe your son daughter or your loved one may be the next in this series.
3) Report to police or NGOs working for that immediately if you find any suspicious activity around you.
If everyone among us will play his part in society, believe me, we will be able to curb this menace soon.
Some female members of Rajouri town recently attacked a school building in which few local youths were taking drugs. I salute those mothers who come up for this noble cause.
Let us pledge for a healthy society.
Let’s pledge to play our part.
We may soon be successful Insha-Allah, still, Jammu division is much better then Punjab but if our attitude remains same believe me we will not be able to become a father. Uncle, Mama chacha etc.
(The author can be reached at : zeshananjum10@gmail.com or +91-9419934487)
