Drugs, the Scourge of Society
By Dr Ahmed Adam
The Muslims of today, especially the youth, are facing many problems and temptations that were not available a decade ago. This is particularly problematic for us as a minority Muslim population in this country. The youth are easily distracted by activities such as addiction to TV, addiction to video games, gambling, disco parties, escort agencies and addiction to drugs. This brief article will explore the harmful effects of drugs on our youth, the family, the society and most important, on our Imaan.
S5V90
: “ O you who believe ! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones and
(divination by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Avoid (such
abominations) that you may prosper.”
The Prophet Mohamed (SAW) said : “ Every intoxicant is khamr, and every khamr is haram”
Intoxicate
: to produce a state ranging from euphoria to stupor ; to stimulate, to excite ;
to poison
We
can draw the following conclusions from the above :
(1)
an
intoxicant is any substance which may be a
liquid, solid or gas, that is voluntarily
taken into the body by swallowing, injection, inhaling or ingesting,
which produces an effect on the brain resulting in a change of mood of the
individual
(2)
examples
of intoxicants (khamr) are alcohol, wine, beer, spirits, home made alcoholic
brews, all forms of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, dagga etc
(3)
all intoxicants are totally forbidden and Haraam irrespective
of the quantity that is used ; even one drop of alcohol is haraam ; similarly,
even one puff of dagga is haraam ; it is not the quantity that is important –
the substance itself is haraam.
(4)
Anyone
who associates in any way with any aspect of the intoxicants (whether alcohol or
drugs) such as the person who uses it, or sells it, or makes it, or delivers it,
is a partner with Shaytaan, since all intoxicants are the handiwork of Shaytaan.
Youngsters
are very gullible and vulnerable to influences of society, their friends,
TV, adults and those that appear to be fashionable in the music and
fashion industries. Hence, a youngster may find that all his friends have
experimented with drugs and now he is feeling left out because everyone else
appears to be having a good time, and all his friends tease him that he is
chicken. This unsuspecting youth then decides to ‘experiment’ only once,
‘just to try it out.” Furthermore, if he does not have money to buy the
drugs, someone may even offer it to him for free. What he does not realise, is
that his first weakness, to please his friends, is the biggest mistake that he
can make. The strategy of the drug pushers is to get as many customers as
possible . Some drug dealers are so ruthless that they give out free sweets
containing drugs to school
children. The trick that they use is to give free drugs to unsuspecting people.
Once a person becomes addicted (“hooked” ) he is now a customer for life.
The addicted person will then beg, borrow, steal, prostitute themselves, just to
make sure that they have money to buy drugs for their next fix. It is a vicious
cycle of crime, prostitution, family breakdown, social breakdown, community
breakdown . It is for this reason that khamr is known as the ‘mother of all
evils.”
There are many types of drugs available on the market. The general effect of all drugs is basically very similar, though they differ in their speed of action as well as the severity of the harm on the body. All drugs directly affect the brain, since this is the only way of causing mood changes. Some examples of drugs are as follows :
(a)
Heroin : highly addictive opiate ; gives very high rush, followed by many
hours of fogginess ; the addict lives day to day for the next fix
(b)
Marijuana : affects the parts of the brain that deals with emotions & memory
(c)
Alcohol : impairs judgements, memory lapses, blackouts
(d)
Cocaine : whether in powder form or crack, it is a highly addictive stimulant
; addict loses interest in school, family, work etc
(e)
Inhalents (glue ; petrol; hair spray ; paint thinners etc) ; destroy the
protective layers around the brain cells
(f)
Ecstasy : powerful amphetamine that causes problems in concentration and causes
the person to find difficulty in knowing the difference between fantasy and
reality
(g)
LSD : gives a distorted view of time & space ; causes paranoia,
confusion, panic attacks
(h)
Steroids : used by ‘body builders” to gain muscles ; causes mood changes and
permanently impairs learning and memory
(i)
Various “date rape prescription drugs
“ : causes short term memory loss ; colourless, odourless and tasteless ;
inserted into the cool-drinks of girls at parties ; the girl is drugged,
semi-conscious and is then raped
Harmful
effects of Drugs
(1) Body
The
main effect of drugs is on the brain. However, other body organs that are
damaged include the following :
(a)
damaged nasal septum (through snorting the drugs)
(b)
collapsed & clotted veins
(c)
kidney, liver & lung failure to various degrees
(d)
damage to the brain
(e)
infected needles causes Hepatitis Infection and HIV/AIDS
(2) Social
The
person displays anti-social
behaviour such as :
(a)
stays away from home
(b)
stealing ; crime
(c)
job loss ;
(d)
withdrawal from community
(e)
embarrassing behaviour in public
(f)
deterioration in relationship with parents or wife or children
(3) Brain
The
most harmful effect of drugs is on the brain. The brain is the most delicate and
powerful computer – it is an amazing organ, with virtually limitless potential
– it is a Gift from Allah (SWT) ; it has to be protected and cherished and its
full potential must be utilized. The moment any person takes a drug into the
body (either by nose, mouth or vein
) the drug enters the blood stream and goes directly to the brain, crosses the
blood –brain barrier (BBB) and occupies various receptor sites in the brain.
This leads to alteration in the chemical and electrical neuronal functioning of
the brain which also leads to eventual organic damage to this delicate, yet
powerful organ. These changes in the brain is what causes the state of
‘addiction’- eventually, the body automatically starts craving for the
damaging drug leading to a vicious cycle of abuse and further damage.
(4) Baby Addicts
Some
mothers who are pregnant sometimes take drugs. These drugs enter the brain of
their unborn baby, so that the baby becomes addicted even before birth. When
these babies are born, they show withdrawal symptoms and will develop with
various learning disabilities. This
is a crime against the innocent unborn child .
Some
of the symptoms that indicate whether a person in your family, or a
friend is addicted to drugs are the following :
(a)
sudden mood changes ;
(b)
unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
(c)
no interest in school, work or life
(d)
no longer any interest in themselves : no longer caring about personal
hygiene, clothing and dressing ; always looking disheveled
(e)
frequent prescription medication
(f)
depression and mood swings
If
there is someone in your family or close friend, who you suspect has a
problem with drugs, then it is our duty to assist them in any way
possible. Some suggestions are as follows
(1)
Communicate. Don’t pretend that the problem will go away or that it cannot be
happening in your own family. Parents and families must learn the art of
healthy, open communication and discuss issues in an open, frank and friendly
atmosphere. Even if things get heated in a
discussion, it is better to talk now rather than wait until your loved one is
dead
(2)
Show sympathy. Even if it is to a stranger. The person who is addicted has a disease.
He/she needs our help. There may have been a family problem that led the person
to experiment. Or the person may have thought that it will be ‘fun’ just to
try it out. No one deliberately says “I want to be a drug addict.” What they
don’t realise is, that after the first taste of the drug, ‘you are
hooked.” Instead of condemning them, offer counselling, moral support, send to
drug rehabilitation and offer words of encouragement
(3)
The Imams
must speak out against this evil from the Mimbars and discuss the
devastating effects of drugs on the
individual, his family as well as on society .
(4)
Muslim communities
must provide alternative forms of recreation for our youth ; these could be
community centers, sports, youth camps etc, where the youth can socialise in an
Islamic environment and are then not tempted to experiment out of boredom
(5)
The
addicted youth should be encouraged to turn to Islam. There have
been many examples of heavily addicted muslim youth, who have been rehabilitated
by turning to Islam. Today they are speaking from the mimbar about their
experiences and are totally devoted to Islam. Allah (SWT) accepts sincere
repentance and an intention to give up the way of Shaytaan and rather follow the
Straight Path
(6)
Mothers have a very important role to play in the upbringing of their children.
Mothers have to take charge and even go on marches against the drug dealers in a
community . The whole community must work actively to rid society of
drugs. Only a mother knows the pain and sorrow of seeing her beloved
child being a slave to the evils of drugs. Every mother has hopes for her child,
hopes that he/she will be healthy, get a job, get married, have children and
lead a happy life. Drugs destroy the dreams of every mother.
(7)
Make dua for all the Muslim youth in our community and throughout the world. We
have a responsibility to look after our youth and protect them from the dangers
of society. Our youth are our future. Ameen.
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