"Make health your 'new high' in life, not drugs". This is the theme for International day against drug and abuse and illicit trafficking this year. Every one of us wants to be fit, healthy, and live a long active life. Well, we all know that a healthy person doesn’t smoke, is at a healthy weight, exercises and eats healthy. Sounds simple, but those who have tried changing their habits know how difficult it could be. Some people decide to make drastic changes, but when they face the difficulties, they just lack motivation and give up. So it is a hard decision that one needs to make in order to make health a priority in life. The secret to healthy life is simple that is small changes lead to big results. Start today and you will have a healthy and hearty life.
Every year the United Nations’ (UN) International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking falls on June 26 to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society. This day is supported by individuals, communities and various organizations all over the world. The aim and purpose of this day is created awareness on the harmful effects drugs and its impact on the communities and societies at large. It is an endeavor that has made many individuals and communities to take strong actions against the menace of substance abuse. As an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. In the words of Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, “Illicit drugs destroy innumerable individual lives and undermine our societies. Confronting the illicit trade in drugs and its effects remains a major challenge for the international community.”
Last year the theme was "Global Action for Healthy Communities without Drugs" is the theme of this year's world drug campaign. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), nearly 200 million people are using illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics worldwide. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) leads the international campaign aimed at raising awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society and especially to young people. The goal is to inspire people and mobilize support for drug control. The use and abuse of illicit drugs harms individuals, families and society at large. Drugs control the body and mind of individual consumers. The drug crop and drug cartels control farmers, trafficking and crime control communities.
Teenagers and young adults are particularly vulnerable to using illicit drugs. The prevalence of drug use among young people is more than twice as high as that among the general population. At this age, peer pressure to experiment with illicit drugs can be strong and self-esteem is often low. Also, those who take drugs tend to be either misinformed or insufficiently aware of the health risks involved. According to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, “Our efforts to promote development and fight drugs and crime will be more effective if they are rooted in partnerships with the young, civil society, governments and the international community. Working together, we can alleviate the suffering of millions and break the hold of drugs and crime on countries, communities and families.”
According to medical sciences the habitual use of or dependence on harmful substances like liquor / alcoholic drinks, tobacco, bidis / cigarettes, drugs (for other than prescribed medical treatment) called substance abuse or addiction. As the range of addictive substances continues to expand, more and more persons particularly, in the younger age groups get addicted. There are many factors that are responsible for pushing the young as well as adults into the trap of substance abuse. These factors include peer-pressure, non-conducive family environment and stress. The risk is that many of our youth are not aware of these factors and get into these habits.
Our parents have to be considerate to children, particularly during their transition from childhood to adolescence and adulthood, when many changes occur in their physique. Adolescents are naturally curious, they are exploring new worlds, ideas, behaviors and relationships. In the process, some are exposed to drugs. Unless their environment, families, schools and friends educate them about the ill effects of using drugs, they are likely to be trapped. Drinking and smoking are the most common as well as harmful addictive actions. It is the duty and responsibility of civil societies to promote healthy life styles to avoid harmful habits.
Drinking or intake of liquor /alcohol is a very serious problem in our society today. The easiest pastime is to drink and many of our young people are lured into this menace. The youth think that it is a good pastime and also to forget worries, frustrations and other hardships of life, even though it is only temporary. If they cannot afford the standard variety, which is expensive, they go for the cheap variety. At times they drink even the poisonous things. After drinking, they lose their senses. Sometimes it results in death or permanent disability.
The use of tobacco is on the increase. Smoking is a habit which is very harmful to health, even more than drinking. Not only does it harm the smokers themselves, but also the people around them who are affected by the smoke in the atmosphere. If we respect the rights of others, then we should not smoke public places like buses, trains, markets, offices etc. Smoking is a major cause of pollution and develops deadly diseases like cancer, heart diseases, breathing problems etc. Many of our young people are not aware of the consequences of this nicotine and abuse them without restrictions.
No country or state can progress unless it pays adequate attention to the development of children and youth. A child is the future citizen of our state and the development of the state is the responsibility of every youth. Only those children and youth who grow in a healthy atmosphere can contribute to the development and strength of our state and our country. Our country has a large population of children and youth. It is our duty to make sure that they are provided with the opportunities for good health and education. During adolescence, young people experience profound physical changes, rapid growth and development, and sexual maturation, in addition to psychological and social changes. This often leads to issues with personal identity, sense of self and emotional independence. In an attempt to cope with the complex changes and challenges of development, they may engage in behaviours considered to be experimental and risky.
Addressing the positive development of young people can decrease these problems by facilitating their adoption of healthy behaviors and helping to ensure a healthy transition into adulthood. Youth development, the process of growing up and developing one’s capacities, happens no matter what we do. The challenge is to promote positive youth development and plan quality experiences with young people. Our programmes and plans have to stimulate, challenge, and encourage youth and adults as they work together to plan, conduct, and evaluate quality experiences. Whether you are a parent, teacher, volunteer, youth development professional, or teenager, this planning guide will help to work with youth. Youth development, then, is a combination of all of the people, places, supports, opportunities and services that most of us inherently understand that young people need to be happy, healthy and successful.
Supports: Motivational, emotional and strategic supports to succeed in life. The supports can take many different forms, but they must be affirming, respectful, and ongoing. The supports are most powerful when they are offered by a variety of people, such as parents and close relatives, community social networks, teachers, youth workers, employers, health providers, and peers who are involved in the lives of young people. Services: Services in such areas as education, health, employment, and juvenile justice which exhibit relevant instruction and information, challenging opportunities to express oneself, to contribute, to take on new roles, and be part of a group, and supportive adults and peers who provide respect, high standards and expectations, guidance and affirmation to young people. Our churches and other social units have to mould the youth with these visions.
Opportunities: Chances for young people to learn how to act in the world around them, to explore, express, earn, belong, and influence. Opportunities give young people the chance to test ideas and behaviors and to experiment with different roles. It is important to stress that young people, just like adults, learn best through active participation and that learning occurs in all types of settings and situations. Our educational institutions shall become the epitome of learning for life through practical knowledge.
A young person will not be able to build essential skills and competencies and be able to feel safe; cared for, valued, useful, and spiritually grounded unless their family and community provide them with the supports and opportunities they need along the way. Thus youth development is a process in which family and community must actively participate. Our body is our temple, and we need to take care of it to have a healthy life. We need to maintain it with proper care and support. Love your bodies and make sure you remain healthy. Life is beautiful and you don’t want to bog yourself down with unnecessary health problems. Today, your vital organs (kidney, heart, lungs, gall bladder, liver, stomach, intestines, etc) may be working well, but they may not be tomorrow. Don’t take your good health today for granted. Take proper care of your body. Good health isn’t just about healthy eating and exercise – it also includes having a positive mental health, healthy self-image and a healthy lifestyle because they are going to be vital in living a healthier life. On this day let us all unite together to promote good health and make our youth free of substance abuse and lead a healthy and happy life.
Fr. Joe Mariadhas
Asst. Professor and Counsellor
St. Joseph’s College
Jakhama - Nagaland
