My dear children, drugs are one of the most horrendous evils created by human beings. What starts from a naughty puff to prove your bravado can lead to an abyss of doom. Not only does the drug user suffer colossal problems, but his/her family has to bear unimaginable social, emotional, financial and cultural costs, which can haunt them for years.
Over the years, I have interacted with a large number of young people, and I realise that the pressures on you are different from what we went through. I know social media is an integral part of your lives, and you can get overwhelmed at life’s fast pace. Sometimes, a feeling of loneliness and desperation pervades your heart, and you do not know how to handle it. I also know that drugs are an easy way to counter the pressures you feel. Peer pressure, constant bombarding of information, disconnect with your elders, and mechanical life are all factors contributing to unnecessary pressure.
But let me ask this simple question. Do you think that you are the only generation in human history to have undergone these pressures? If the answer is no, then my dear kids, the answer also tells you that every generation, when growing up, experiences its own challenges. We had our own demons, growing up in the most stifling environment in the history of our Country. After the social democracy slogans of “Roti, kapra aur Maqaan”, Religion was used to modify our behaviour to ensure that we stay subservient to the government. Free thought suffered with the result that while growing up, we were inflicted with deep scars.
The next question is much more difficult. How to ensure that you do not indulge in drugs and become enslaved to this menace? Besides the steps which are needed to be taken by the Government, parents, educational institutions and media, how can you refrain yourselves? The answer is simple, and I hope it can be beneficial to you.
Let’s name it the “Self-Remedial Action Plan” (SRAP). It embodies within itself six actionable steps which, if you implement with your heart and soul, will keep you safe.
The first is the most important. You will talk to your parents regularly about everything under the sun. Even if they do not connect, you will talk to them as a ritual. Try to convey your feelings and the pressures you feel in the modern world. If possible, make dinner time your time. Keep your phone away and indulge in chit chat. If you feel that one of your friends is pressurizing you to start using drugs as a past time, immediately tell your parents. In case you are an orphan, share your feelings with your guardian or anyone else you feel close to in the family.
Secondly, regulate your social media usage. It seems easy, but it is difficult as WhatsApp, YouTube and other platforms are omnipresent and the algorithms are designed to get you hooked on. But no worries. Once you discipline yourself and avoid negative information, you will start enjoying your time. Start making use of the millions of videos on YouTube about various topics. Ask ChatGPT in what conditions kids get involved with drugs and how to avoid them. Thus, making intelligent positive use of social media will be very beneficial to you.
Thirdly, offer your prayers. Period. There is no need to explain it further. Once you become regular, Namaz has the requisite power to keep you in check, as appearing before the Almighty after violating his commandments is extremely difficult
Fourthly, make physical activity part and parcel of your daily routine. This is an extremely important tool which keeps you fit and healthy. During exercise, the body secretes various hormones and neurotransmitters which play a crucial role in energy regulation, mood improvement and physical adaptation. Try to become part of a team sport as it not only generates close friendships but also creates a very positive energy capsule. Winning by a well-knit team leads to both psychological and physical laurels.
The fifth prong is tricky. Druggies are those people who try to attract as many users as possible, and the easiest prey are their friends. When a close friend gets involved, it provides a soothing effect to the druggie. And once they have a trustworthy confidant, drug procurement and usage become much easier. Are you ready to sacrifice your life for such an unworthy friend? How can you go down a road at the end of which is assured self-destruction? How can you hurt your loved ones and become a stigma for your family? Even if your closest friends get involved, try to make them realise the dangers. And if you feel that you are getting attracted to drugs by the effects caused by them, it is time to terminate the friendship. Never ever try a drug to make your friends happy. That’s the most foolish thing you can do.
The last but not least ingredient of our SRAP is to develop close interaction with your teachers and peers. Teachers, after parents, are responsible for your well-being. That is it. No educational institution can absolve itself of this primary responsibility. You spend more time in schools and colleges than in your homes. So, talk to your teachers if you are facing a problem for which you have no answer. Always remember that sharing is much better than keeping it all wobbled up inside, as you will suffer if you do not share.
My dear children, you are the future. You have long lives to live. This journey will have its ups and downs. But always remember that Drugs are a big NO NO. They provide an escape route temporarily, and you may think that you have found a magic potion. No, my dear Kids. It’s black magic in its worst form.
The hallucination which an addict experiences is not heaven. It is the crevasse of hell.
Aamir Zulfiqar Khan
The writer is a senior public policy expert who has served as Inspector General of Police, Punjab, Islamabad and National Highway & Motorways Police. He can be reached at amzkhan.lhr@gmail.com
