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Drug addiction is a serious menace in modern society. Combating this is not an easy task, simply because the work involves millions of people all over the world. All the countries have severe laws to deal with drug addicts and drug peddlers but the availability of drugs and the number of victims have been steadily rising.
In fact, statistics reveal that the purity of the drug available in the market is near 100% now. The quantity has also increased dramatically due to the devious ways of the drug peddlers. Law enforcement agencies had been finding it very difficult to stop the tidal flow of drugs in every country. One solution to this grim situation is to improve the propaganda against the usage of drugs.
A concerted effort from governmental agencies, corporate bodies, voluntary organizations, educational institutions, media and individuals would be needed to reduce the hazard of drug usage. Parents and teachers have to enhance their monitoring systems to detect drug usage by school and college students. They have to continuously educate the children about the risk of falling into the trap of the killer drug habit.
Moderate disciplinary measures have to be put in place, even though strict discipline regimes would actually prove to be counterproductive. Corporate bodies also should keep a watch for drug habits by their employees. High level propaganda in the media about the pitfalls in drug usage is also very necessary to bring about full awareness about the risks involved. Certain governments that encourage the production and distribution of drugs had to be severely warned. Quarantining or ostracizing such nations should be at the top of the agenda of the United Nations.
While combating the drug threat, the drug prevention programs should be both protective-specific and risk-specific. These factors vary enormously with age, gender, culture, ethnicity, and environment in each nation. Hence, the drug prevention methods have to be oriented for improving the protective factors and reducing as well as total reversing of the risk factors. Early detection of a drug habit would go a long way in the rehabilitation of the drug addict.
We have to remember that drug addiction does not stop with those who use hard drugs like cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methadone, etc., or those who are heavy drinkers or smokers. Many of us are addicted to narcotic or opiate based drugs like Oxycontin, Vicodin, Codeine, Lorcet, Darvon, Morphine, Demerol, Percodan, Dilaudid, Percocet, and Hydromorphone, even without our knowledge. Hence, it would be best to understand the symptoms of drug addiction, so that such persons could be properly rehabilitated.
The appetite of a drug user undergoes a sharp change. That person either eats very little or starts eating a much higher quantity. Sudden gain or loss in weight is also witnessed. The smell on breath, body or clothes becomes unnatural. The behavior and attitude of a drug addict also gets significantly altered. That person starts shunning old circle of friends to move to the new group of drug users. Frequent late arrival or absenteeism to school or work becomes the norm. The drug user exhibits either depressed moods or violent tantrums, without any visible reason. The secretiveness increases as does lack of interest in regular work.
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Fact-Find.com 2006 Drug Addiction - Education And Reform
Part 1
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