SAY NO TO DRUGS

This comes as a grim reminder to all those who feel that material
success is all that's important for family peace and happiness. Today,
on International Anti-Narcotics Day, experts say that lack of
communication in the family encourages youngsters to experiment with
drugs.

It's estimated that there are 2 lakh drug addicts in Mumbai. Of these,
1,20,000 use brown sugar, 40,000 use a mix of different drugs and
another 40,000 are addicted to other substances like cough syrups and
ink dilutors.

Drug addiction has become a major phenomenon in Mumbai in the past two
decades, affecting all segments of society. Eldred Tellis, managing
trustee, Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust, says, "In today's scenario,
drug abuse is on the rise among the low income groups. The high
concentration areas are Crawford Market, Dawa Bazaar, Dharavi and
Kamathipura. There is an increase in the use of drugs like ecstasy and
acid among the upper and the upper-middle class due to the pub and
party culture."

Drugs are available at prices ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 2000 and even
more. Dr Yusuf Merchant of Drug Abuse Information Rehabilitation and
Research Centre (DAIRRC) explains, "Today different methods are used
by both the urban as well as the rural population of Mumbai to get
away from the problems of life. From ink dilutors, cough syrups,
sleeping pills, hashish, marijuana, heroin, petrol and alcohol to
designer drugs like ecstasy, acid, and speed, all are resorted to. It
has been found by the de-addiction centres that the city's most
popular drug, brown sugar, is widely used by lower income groups as it
is cheap and easily available."

Peer pressure, sheer ignorance, insecurity, stress, boredom, changing
social structure, urbanisation, unemployment, alienation, lack of
self-expressing
skills are some of the suggested reasons for spread of this evil.

But, people who are closely associated with the de-addiction system
believe that the family can play a very important role in dealing with
the problem. Dr Harish Shetty, consultant psychiatrist, National
Addiction Research Centre (NARC), says, "Parents can play a vital role
in keeping their children away from drugs. Also, emotional hygiene
packages should be a part of school and college curriculum." Gabriel
Britto, director, NARC, adds, "Parents should treat their children as
grown-ups and have an open relationship with them. They should help
them to make the right decisions on critical subjects in their lives."

Dr Merchant says, "Prevention begins with parents and families, and
requires the support of schools and colleges. It's the kitchen table
that can be the most important weapon to fight this problem. Sharing a
meal a day will enable parents to understand the behaviour of their
child in a much better way, and will knit the family together."

How to identify an addict in your home?

* An addict spends a long time in the bathroom as his stomach
functions abnormally

* He has a poor appetite and loses weight fast

* He abhors cleanliness and hates to bathe

* Fluctuation in moods - from irritation to anger; calmness to
restlessness

* Burn marks on the fingers

* Recurrent cold and coughs

* Changes in sleeping pattern - either totally sleepless or very
sleepy

* A sudden love for rock music or outlandish fashions

* Empty strips of pills found in his/her purse.

* Money and belongings missing

* Compulsive lying is the hallmark of an addict

* Needle marks, abscesses or scratch marks are seen on the body