SADA

A VOICE AGAINST DRUG ADDICTION

Al Quran

Article

True Stories

Golden Words

Volume 11 Dec 2011

Riffat Sadiq PhD (Fellow) Editor-in-Chief Safia Rafiq M Phil Associate Editor

A Publication Of Drug Free Nation

www.sada.drugfreenation.org

S no Contents Page

Al Quran 2

Psychological Risk Factors for Drug Abuse Problem 3

Poverty and Drug Abuse 4

Consequences of Tobacco Use (Gutka) 5

Escape Is Not The Solution

Do Face The Problems

From Sobriety to Success

Golden Words

Contents

P a g e | 3

Contents Al Quran

By Shireen Ismail

Following are the psychological factors that lead to drug abuse problems among

people;

1. Stress:

American Psychological Association (APA) defines stress as, "The pattern of

specific and nonspecific responses of an organism that tax or exceed his ability to

cope".

In response to stressors, physiological changes occur in the body that lead to

psychological changes and person feels to be under stressed and could not cope

with the stressors. Sometimes, he finds the solutions of his problems in useless

things and get involved in the addictive behavior. He uses different kinds of

drugs just to feel relax and to escape from reality.

2. Anger control problems:

Anger control problem is also risk factor for drug abuse problems. Anger can be

toward self or others and ranges from minimal arousal to rage. When a person

could not control his angry feelings either toward self or others may lead to drug

abuse. People use drugs to release their anger.

3. Poor self image:

Self image is defined as the person's perception of self. There are two types of

self-image; good self image and poor self image. When a person perceives him in

negative way and feels inferior or underestimates his qualities, he gets emotionally

disturbed. He sees his self worthless in comparison to others. As a result, he

becomes dependent on drugs

4. Revenge:

Revenge is also considered a risk factor of drug abuse problems. It also has two

forms. One is toward self and second is toward others. Some times, an individual

develop extreme guilt feelings and decides to punish himself and uses drugs.

Sometimes, he uses drugs to take revenge from others (parents, siblings, spouse,

and society). He uses drugs and tries to respond to evils by getting involved in evil

acts.

5. Poor Self control:

Poor self control is defined as the inability to individual to control his impulses or

desires. It is a strong risk factor of drug abuse problems. A person's who is unable

to control his desires, behaviors and emotion as well is more likely to be indulged in

drug abuse behavior. P a g e | 4

Psychological Risk Factors for Drug Abuse Problem

By Riffat Sadiq

A renowned personality in the field of humanistic psychology, Abraham

Maslow (1954) had suggested that a man's personality growth takes

place successfully and smoothly as his needs are gratified. If first of his

need is not met appropriately, the second one will effected. The most

important need is physiological need like need for hunger and thirst.

People deprived of food, water and shelter are having difficulty in

achieving secondary and higher level needs (need to be self- actualized)

which are essential to have positive attitude toward others and self as

well.

Based on this concept, one can claim that, deprivation of basic amenities

or in other words, poverty results in number of emotional and social

problems. Several real life examples and researches revealed adverse

impact of poverty and deprivation of basic amenities on human being

and society and drug abuse is one of those adverse impacts.

Besides impairing an individual growth, poverty seems to impair living

environment, family functioning and social norms. Because, when a

person faces difficulties in achieving his desired goals and finds other

getting success, achieving status and wealth, he, obliviously, feels

helpless and frustrated. These feelings further lead to anger and

resentment; as a result, he tries to get access to his goal by following

wrong paths, for instance, drug abuse. Even, children could not be

refrained from indulging in drug addiction. Economic condition of

family impairs children emotional well-being. Being deprived of social

resources, they develop delinquent behaviors like drug abuse.

World Health Organization (WHO) also has reported that drug abuse

problems are rapidly increasing in developing countries where most of

the people are leading from hand to mouth life. In order to minimize the

use to drugs, poverty must be considered contributing factor.

Government should launch program to enhance the living standards of

people to save whole nation.

P a g e | 4

Poverty & Drug Addiction

By Haider Ali

Tobacco is frequently being used in two ways. Some people use smoke tobacco by using cigarette/ hukka, whereas some chew tobacco (gutka). Both methods of using

tobacco are harmful for health. A myth about hukka is that it is good for health . It is also taken as tradition and has been using for a long time. No empirical data is available to address the health effects associated with hukka use. But researchers

have explored the effects of tobacco in form of cigarette on physical and psychological health. Chewing tobacco (gutka) is also being frequently used

specially in middle and lower class. Tobacco chew (gutka) has profound impact on the physical health. Numbers of cases have been reported to hospitals that show

the strongest link of tobacco with physical health problems, for examples mouth cancer, dental problems, stomach related problems etc, etc. Despite this, people

are still using and also selling tobacco (gutka). Observing parents/elders, children and adolescents are using it. Parents send their children to buy gutka from shops.

They daily observe their parents, relatives, neighbors and shopkeepers using and spiting on the walls, roads and from the window of public transport. They are

learning multiple negative behaviors from their elders. Later in life, they will be like them and make unhealthy nation. We will have to change our self if we want to

save future generation in order to make healthy nation

P a g e | 5

Consequence of Tobacco Use (Gutka)

Escape Is Not The Solution

When I reached to the age of maturity, I felt to be detained and my

home was like a cage for me. Neither we were allowed to go to visit our

relatives, nor were they allowed (by my father) to come to our home.

My father had been abusing us. At the age of 17, I ran away from

home and started living with my friend. I used to work and very soon

I also got married. I used to take alcohol and then started injection.

My wife was also an injection user. I had been blessed with a son.

When my son was 6 month old, I divorced my wife and came back to

my father's home with my son.

I always tried to hide my involvement in drugs. Gradually, every one

in my locality knew that I was taking drugs. Now, I want to get rid

of it but no one is ready to support me owing to my father's attitude.

One day, I requested my maternal uncle and he took me to hospital.

After medical examination, I was diagnosed with hepatitis C. I am

struggling but with less hope

P a g e | 6

True Story

Do Face The Problems

I was born in poor and dysfunctional family. I never went to school

and used new attire. My grand mother kept accusing my father.

My father was a drug addict. My grandmother arranged his

marriage despite knowing his addiction. After two months of

marriage, my mother came to know about my father's addiction.

There always had been quarrel between my parents. At the age of 15, I

ran away from home and to be settled in another city. Initially, I used

to sleep at railway station. Later on, I got job in a workshop. My boss

was a nice man and always cared me. After four years, I went back

home. My father had passed away due to overdose. My mother was

working hard to run family finance. My uncle was also helping my

mother. I decided to share the responsibility of my family. My mother

was too much happy to see me. We all are working hard to lead a sober

life.

P a g e | 7

True Story

From Sobriety to Success

I belonged to upper class family and father was an industrialist. At

the age of 17, I started going to factory with my father. One day, I

met with an MPA's brother and very soon we both became good

friends. He was cannabis user and owing to his company, I also

became addict. Till the age of 25, I had become a heroin user. When

my family knew that, they arranged my marriage. My wife did not

know about my addiction. My wife was very good and hard

working lady . Due to my addiction, I had lost my money even my

factory. In crises, only my wife supported me

One day, some of my relatives called me Jahaz (Junkie ) in front

of my daughter . She was tearing and asked me the reason for

calling jahaz. I felt ashamed of my self and kept weeping. I

requested to my wife to take me to treatment. I got treatment and

now I am living a sober life. Today, I do not have wealth but I am

too much happy and satisfied with my present life .

P a g e | 8

True Story

(A Poem from family of drug abuser by Sue Cushing)

My Josh

In my mind I hold a picture

Of how we used to be

For everything you needed

You could turn to me.

I still see that sweet faced baby

And the toddler full of joy

The charming little person

And the athletic growing boy.

Every phase I relished

Treasuring every day

All the while knowing

Someday you'd grow away.

I guess I wasn't watching

Not holding up my end

Because I swear I never saw

When evil stole in on the wind.

I sensed something was different

I knew something was wrong

But tried to justify my part

"The Single Mother's Song."

When I finally woke up

Nowhere left to hide

I cried and swore, yelled and begged

But I was always on your side!

Through all the broken promises

The stealing and the lies,

Somehow I still could find my son

When I looked into your eyes.

P a g e | 9

Golden Words

The phone became my enemy

Each ring could bring my death

Because I feared the words I'd hear

I lived holding my breath.

The road has not been easy

But I've always lived in hope

Because I know you're not the enemy

The monster's name is DOPE.

This disease will never leave you

You'll struggle One Day At A Time,

You won't always be a junkie

But you WILL always

Note: This poem is taken for the magazine from Family Friend Poems,

http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/the-monsters-name-is-dope

P a g e | 10

Golden Words