(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Affluence personality traits globalisation boredom cited as reasons for drug use
dr ali al marzooqi national rehabilitation centre (nrc) abu dhabi unveiling the results of his abu dhabi-based study ‘new trends of drug abuse and prevention among youth in the gcc’ said 56 per cent of the 238 polled students aging 12 to 14 blamed friends for drug use while 35 per cent were only having fun.
“the first free try is the stepping stone to addiction let alone lack of parental care improper upbringing and absence of role models at home. lack of challenges curiosity boredom leisure time bad friends and peer pressure are the main reasons for falling prey to drug use.”
dr marzooqi explained that the world health organisation showed there are some 185 million illicit drug users 2 billion alcohol users and 1.3 billion smokers in the world in 2002. the three psychoactive substances costing the world up to $600 billion annually inflict their disease burden on different age groups.
“illicit drug use inflicts its mortality burden earliest in life alcohol also mainly (65 per cent) before the age of 60 while 70 per cent of the tobacco deaths occur after the age of 60.”
dr marzooqi said the reasons behind drug use in the uae are many including drug diversity particularly synthesised and mixed ones. “misleading beliefs that some drugs enhance concentration and are sexual stimulants also count.”
the affluence of money geographical location and personality traits — principally the inability to resist pressures of friends and colleagues whose cultural backgrounds are diverse — and globalisation in the sense that certain psychotropic drugs known as ‘spice’ can be ordered online and are home delivered have worsened the situation he added.
dr marzooqi said teenagers opt for drug use for many reasons like family disputes and breakdown delinquent friends leisure time mass media displaying drug use social websites lack of knowledge and awareness and weak personality. he indicated that tramadol hashish and chemically synthesised drugs topped the list of narcotics abused but over 251 new psychoactive substances or nps have been discovered so far as per the european drug report 2013 and unodc survey 2012.
“such nps which hit 350 types now are hard to discover easily accessible online and widespread among young people who think they are safe to use. asian countries particularly the gcc states came second in terms of these drugs abuse.”
according to a study recently conducted by the nrc in abu dhabi all the 80 polled students aging between 13 and 18 were aware of all tobacco products. “they affirmed that tobacco is affordable easily obtainable considered cool and is prevalent among the girls acting like boys locally known as boyat” dr marzooqi said.
the study shows that they were aware of all types brands and prices and also where to use them unseen. “the same applies to narcotics and nps which are mostly used in camps deserts streets and even school toilets.”
ahmedshaaban?khaleejtimes.com
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