PotShot

Drugs: Death comes calling!
Ritam Banati | ZeeNews.com | June 25th, 2006

June 26 is International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The theme of the day this year given by UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) is "Drugs are not child`s play". Noted American poet, Allen Ginsberg has summed up in a few words the effect of the drug cocaine in the brain: "Nobody saved America by sniffing cocaine. Jiggling your knees blankeyed in the rain, when it snows in your nose you catch cold in your brain."

Drugs play havoc not only with your body but with your mind as well. The long-term effects of Cocaine include heart attack, respiratory failure, strokes and seizures. Heroine may cause liver disease, lung complications and chronic constipation. Ecstasy causes acute dehydration, nausea and blurred vision. Marijuana, the most commonly used illegal drug in the world causes memory related problems. Like American singer Jim Morrison put it, "Drugs are a bet with your mind."

Drugs have been used by people from the world of fashion and glamour throughout the world. There are many examples of people from these industries being caught with drugs and being charged for drug consumption.

It is important for drug users to be aware of the long-term implications of taking drugs. Drugs slow down your reflex action and response to stimuli. Such is their devastating impact on the brain. The feeling of euphoria is short-lived and when the effect dies down the addict starts craving for more. Drugs become the meaning of life then. Everything starts and ends with drugs. There is no life that can be imagined without them.

It is vital to study how deep is the network that makes the trade possible in the first place. The trafficking network is so intricate and widespread with the involvement of the higher echelons of society that it becomes very difficult to attack its roots.

Recently, Pakistan destroyed 8 mobile heroin-refining laboratories in Quetta. Afghanistan is another haven for growing poppy seeds and has become a major hub of drug trafficking. As per Pakistan’s estimates, 70% of Afghanistan`s drugs find their way to Pakistan and Iran and the remaining 30% are smuggled through Central Asia to other countries. Africa is also not far behind. West African countries are being used for bringing drugs like cocaine from Latin America and Europe.

Laws are very stringent in some countries like China, Singapore and the Far East where drug dealers attract death penalty. Recently only, 16 people in China were sentenced to death just days before the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Nations are well-knit as far as drugs are concerned. For instance, China borders South-East Asia`s Golden Triangle and Afghanistan. Incidentally the latter is one of the world`s biggest opium production regions. Europe is also not free from this malaise. Events suggest the existence of drug trade between Spain and Ireland where Wales is used as the route to smuggle drugs.

The network is too deep in India to be overhauled in raids. There is the involvement of society`s rich and the influential in this trade. Drugs have become a means to party among the country`s elite class including the world of fashion. Very recently the son of a late politician was caught allegedly due to drug consumption. This revealed the links between the Nigerian drug peddlers in the country with the powerful sections of Indian society.

Reports suggest that a large percentage of Nigerians usually from poverty-stricken families back home are involved in the trade in India to earn a quick buck.

In the famous Indian state of Kashmir, 17% of the youth are into drugs intake. India is fast emerging as a transit nation for heroin export. Heroin and brown sugar are produced in India in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. This finds its way to Nigeria while cocaine is smuggled into the country from Colombo and Africa.

Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Latin America, South America are only a few more nations where the trade is thriving.

It is also important to study why people take to drugs. The causes range from trying for fun to a much deeper problem. Drugs form an easy escape route for a depressed mind. There is a need for a greater awareness among drug abusers of the lethal effects of the substance. It is vital to educate young minds about it to prevent their experimentation. Uprooting it from the moment the thought strikes the mind is the only solution. Before anyone begins to take drugs, they need to remind themselves of this quote by American actor, Denis Leary, "The best pitch I ever heard about cocaine was back in the early 80s when a street dealer followed me down the sidewalk going: I got some great blow man. I got the stuff that killed Belushi."

Perhaps a little more knowledge about it might prevent the slow but sure suicide of millions of people who are into drugs. For if there are no drug users, there would be practically no drug peddlers as well.

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Buzzby

It's amusing that they're positioning Allen Ginsberg as an anti-drug spokesman. He was a huge advocate for marijuana and psychedelics...

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the Viper

Some very respected learning institutions (Brigham Young is one if memory serves) have done studies to prove that this statement just isn't true.they've tested a large group of alumni over a period of years, and shown no loss of memory or intelligence in the smokers versus the control group. in fact, some of the stoners showed improved results compared to the non smokers.

everyone sees stoners as burn outs, but most dumb stoners would be dumb no matter what.

Im pretty much anti-drug when we start talking about the destroyers- heroin, coke, meth etc.

dedbr

No drug peddlers except the big drug companies who started and continue the drug war we have now, right?

DEA says we have a prescription drug problem. We do as far as big drug is concerned...they aren't getting a piece of the dollar a milligram pie...

Excuse me while I go get fooled by all this.....


Somewhere in Ded Land....

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NCAA Athlete

No drug peddlers except the big drug companies who started and continue the drug war we have now, right?

Not to mention Coors, Smirnoff, R.J. Reynolds, etc., etc.

When was the term "drugs" changed to mean only illegal and prescription drugs and not acohol, tobacco, caffeine?

kinghelwig

This man still gets high,he's lying if he says otherwise,he partied with the elite of our generation,and made an impact on society that is still felt today,go alan,and while your at it we could use some confusing poetry,to let our minds drift freely,with the hopes of keeping us young forever.