June 24, 2004

Despite action by the authorities against drug pedlars and growers the number of drug users remains high in the country, most of whom are children. Dr Tehseen Aman discusses the ways in which children can be kept away from drugs

June 26 marks the international day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This world-wide observance was decided by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987 to raise the level of awareness in the international community of the dangers of drug abuse, to prevent spread of drugs and to encourage an all out effort to combat illicit trafficking.

Pakistan has been fairly successful in its anti-narcotic efforts by controlling and reducing poppy cultivation besides destroying a large number of heroin laboratories. These efforts have been acknowledged by the UN and the United States. The United States issued Pakistan a ‘Full Certification’ for cooperating in the fight against drugs. While the UN described Pakistan as a success story in the fight against narcotics and cited it as an example to be followed by other countries.

But despite the number of drug addicts is still alarmingly high and indeed Pakistan is among countries with the highest number of addicts. This is due to the abject failure of the country’s institutions in dealing with the socio-economic problems linked to substance abuse. Another factor is the apparent ease with which illegal narcotics can be procured.

It is worrying to note that more than 80 per cent of the estimated four million drug addicts in Pakistan are youngsters and about 60 per cent of the addicts belong to the educated class. Similarly in South-East Asian cities like Manila 20 per cent drug abusers are aged between 15 to 19, in Bangkok 15 per cent drug abusers are adolescent while in Kuala Lumpur the figure is eight per cent. In Jakarta’s public secondary school 25 per cent of students are drug addicts.

One reason for increased drug use among children is that parents lack basic education about drugs. Many parents are unaware of the prevalence of illicit substances and the risks their children face.

Since the 80s people have grown up in an age where almost every other person is involved in drugs. Drugs have been hard to avoid because of peer pressure. Therefore it was important to break this pressure. A parent’s actions even before a child’s birth are critical in helping the child to stay off drugs in later years.

Drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes, can cross the placental barrier and damage a fetus as early as three weeks after conception. Some research suggests that children born to addicted mothers may be at a higher risk of addiction later in their lives. Before your children start going to school the parents should establish family guidelines for behaviour such as honesty, fairness, respect for others and for the law.

As soon as the child is old enough to understand teach him/her that some products found around the house, including house hold cleaners, aerosols and medicines can be poisonous. Make sure that they understand that they are not to swallow anything new without first talking to you.

Children of five to nine learn mainly by experience. They can slide from fact to fancy and back again without even realizing it. What they see is very real to them. Parents and teachers are like heroes to them and they tend to copy what they see. If children see their parents smoking, drinking or taking drugs, then they are more likely to follow their example.

Parents should begin to teach their children about peer pressure before they are seven. They should try to make them understand that just because someone tells them to do something that does not mean it is the right thing to do, and if they are in doubt they should consult someone they trust.

In late primary school many children encounter classmates who are smoking, drinking or doing drugs, or using pressurized aerosol products such as paints and glue. The fact that the momentary high can cause permanent brain damage, even death, does not occur to them.

Therefore one of the most important lessons parents can teach their children is how to say no. Another thing to do is to help their children to stay away from places where they may be pressured to use illegal drugs. Parents should also be aware of what their children watch on TV, and also monitor their computer programmes and what they are accessing on the Internet.

The teenage years are the most difficult and vulnerable period in a child’s life. Children of this age are curious and willing to try just about anything that they think will make them cool. Many young adolescents desperately want to be grownups and have a feeling that they are being held back by overprotective parents. This can create rebellious teens.

What they really need is a lot of love and attention. So parents should listen to their child’s view and ideas and give him responsibility at home, and also teach him that saying no to drugs is a sign of maturity. Mature children need facts, while immature children need a balance between facts and penalties, if they are going to resist peer pressure and temptations around them, so keep advice factual.

Armed with good information parents can speak accurately about what drugs can do. Children are concerned about looking good to their peers. Point out to them that cigarette smoking causes bad breath, and if they drink or do drugs they might become ill and throw up in front of their friends.

Another important fact parents should look out for are the friends their children keep, get to know your child’s friends and their parents and monitor their whereabouts. Steering children towards the right crowd is not always easy, declaring a friend off limits may only make that person appear more glamorous. Do not leave the children unsupervised, with little to do and bored. The lack of parental involvement is the most crucial factor in the increase of drug use.

For young adults peer pressure still holds sway. Being accepted as one of the gang is a top priority, and susceptibility to influence and exposure to drugs and alcohol may be even greater than it was during the teen years. This is also the time children begin smoking, a habit, which is a gateway to drugs and it is downhill from there.

Children at this age need to be reminded that drugs and alcohol are bad for their bodies, along with that these substances can make them get into dangerous acts. Drugs can lead them to crime. Children need to be shown that drugs are not glamorous. To keep children away from drugs, schools, community, religious institutions and the police can help, but no one can replace the family.

If your child is taking drugs on the sly, try to watch out for it. Notice whether they are showing signs of withdrawal, isolation, depression, fatigue, drop in academic performance, aggression, rebellious behaviour, hostility, lack of cooperation, deteriorating relationship with family, loss of interest in hobbies and sports, stealing, change in eating or sleeping habits, evidence of drugs like collections of pipes, medicine bottles, lighters, physical changes like blood shot eyes, runny nose without a cold, coughing, wheezing, nausea and bruises from falls.

Do not confront the child who seems to be under the influence of drugs. Wait until the effect of the drug has worn off then discuss your suspicions calmly. Impose reasonable discipline which you feel is appropriate for violation of the rules. Be firm, do not relent because the child promises not to do it again.

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