Of Drugs and Youth
Today, the problem of drug abuse among the youth has assumed a
greater significance and heightened concern in various
socio-cultural and economic strata. Though no accurate figures
are available to measure the actual extent of the problem, drug
addicts reporting to counseling in the country points out that
the problem has spread among various age groups, and much among
youths aged 16 to 25 years.
The age group in which a youth is, signifies the transformation
of an adolescent to a young person, which usually is accompanied
with the trials and tribulations of a 'child' in becoming a
'grown-up'. A bundle of exuberant but undirected energy, he
derives pleasure in taking risks and experimenting with new
things. He craves to taste the 'forbidden fruits' in his quest
for attaining recognition and status amongst his peers. Such a
behaviour often brings him in open or concealed conflict with
his parents and 'parent figures' which leads to the much
discussed 'conflict of generations' and 'generation gap'. The
situation has been further complicated due to the fast paced
social transformation brought in the society by rapid
industrialisation, urbanisation and rural-urban migration. It
has eroded the traditional, informal, social control mechanisms
and has even brought in changes in the structure of the family,
from joint to nuclear, or at best an extended family.
The 'media explosion' has shrunken the world, especially for the
youth, and they are now more aware of things around. This has
also raised their level of aspiration and ambition. With
materialism, consumerism and individualism gaining ascendancy,
modern youth is drifting away from his traditional roots and
finds it difficult to cope with ever increasing social
pressures. Further, the increasing economic pressures compel
more and more parents to take full time employment leaving a
child, more so a youth, alone in the house or in the company of
friends. With no adequate programmes available to keep them
busy, they become easy prey to anti-social activities including
drug-abuse.
There may be various reasons for a youth to take to drug abuse,
from just curiosity and a tendency to experiment with. It may be
an expression of his revolt against established authority, a way
of gaining recognition in his group or he may just not be able
to say 'NO', when offered.
Therefore awareness creation or preventive education programme
for youth is an imperative. In build up immunity amongst them,
would promote self-respect and determination, provide
experiences which encourage self-respect and sense of dignity,
enhances personal and social skill which are necessary for
functioning in a rapidly transforming society and provide for
professional skills.
What is more important is that the leisure time activities of
both student and non-student youth are so organised that they
provide for healthy recreation and constructive work habits. As
is evident, a youth feels more at home within his age-group.
Therefore, to reach them, it is but natural to take the help of
more active groups among them.
In Bangladesh, a strong emphasis has been placed on awareness
building against drug-abuse among youth as they are considered
to be the most precious asset for human resource development.
Financial and technical assistance is provided by the government
and NGO's to help them undertake activities such as socio
cultural programmes. Experience has shown such programmes have a
salutary impact, if backed by a good follow-up programme.
It has also been realised that youth power can be harnessed not
only from preventing youths from the malady of addiction but
also by improving the environment they live in. One such example
is the "Rainy Day" concert organised by Prothom Alo to observe
the International Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking. Some
15000 youths saying 'No to drugs' vowed to launch a nationwide
movement against drug.
I take my hats off to Anusheh who had the gut to narrate her
once drug addicted life. Anusheh, you can be a good ambassador
to help the drug addicts return to their original track. Such
activities/programmes help to identify addicts in their own peer
groups. Dare devils as the youth are, they prove to be an asset
in reaching rather inaccessible areas of the community, such as,
pockets of addiction.
Many a time, due to their connection with traffickers, pushers
and pedlars, it becomes difficult to impress upon addicts to
leave their habit. It is here that the youths, voluntary
organisations have not only been able to create awareness but
also have been able to muster support for combating trafficking,
pushing and peddling drug.
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