The World Health Organization estimated that about 50 crore people in the world are affected by the drug abuse.  Physical Addiction appears to occur when repeated use of drug changes the way your brain feels pleasure. According to United Nations, Pakistan has the highest number of drug addicts almost 6.7 million drug users. The growing trend of drug abuse among youth has posed a serious threat to lives and health of future genaration.

EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH:

Drug addiction at any age can cause serious health effects but youngsters who abuse drugs are at particular high risk of negative consequences.

• EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS: Drugs abuse can cause emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, suicidal thoughts ETC
• BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS: Teens who abuse drugs have an increased risk of social problems, depression and violence. Teens who abuse drugs are more likely than teens who don’t abuse drugs to engage in delinquent behaviors such as fighting, stealing ETC
• LEARNING PROBLEMS: drug abuse damages short-term as well as long-term memory and leads to later on memory problems in life
• DISEASES: Teens who abuse drugs with needles increase their risk of having blood-borne disease HIV, AIDS.
• CAR ACCIDENTS: Youngsters who abuse drugs are more likely involved in accidents. Study shows that 4 to 14 percent of drivers who are injured or die in traffic accidents test positive for THC.

PREVENTIONS:

• Know the activities of the teenagers and pay attention to their whereabouts.
• Establishment of rules and make them aware of consequences.
• Provide them support and make a strong bond with your youth and teenagers.
•  Know their friends and make yourself aware about their social gatherings.

CONCLUSION:

Socio-economic background of the family, psychological, peer pressure school/college, socio culture and mass media causes of drug abuse. Also bad relationship with family causes drug abuse because youth take drugs to relax psychologically. Recent advances in neuroscience may help improve policies to reduce the harm that the use of tobacco, alcohol and other psychoactive drugs in society.

JAZBA TALKS has recently started working on youth empowerment, capacity building and help them how to solve the issues they are facing in daily life.