It’s no lie, Drugs will make your Mama cry!

We say that a drug is any substance which when taken into the body has an effect on the way the body and brain work. Harmful drugs are substances which when taken into the body produce harmful effects.

Drugs themselves are defined as poison. They are man-made, that’s why they are called “synthetic drugs”. Heroine is a very harmful drug. It is an illegal, highly addictive drug processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a white or brownish powder. Impure heroin is usually dissolved, diluted, and injected into veins, muscles, or under the skin. Cocaine is a drug that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It gives rise to what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. Side effects can include twitching, paranoia, and impotence, which usually increase with frequent usage.

Mauritius has been suffering from an epidemic of drugs. Children, most precisely adolescents, are being exposed to drugs whether in schools or at home itself. And all we can say as reason is “peer pressure”. Literally, this is not a valid reason at all. Peer pressure? Then ask yourself, where do these children get drugs from? Maybe they buy or steal from their parents. Then again, ask yourself from where do those merchants get the drugs? See?

There’s always a connection. It’s like a puzzle and you must solve it. Youngsters are more likely to be affected as these scenes of drug consumption are seen in films and youngsters want to act similarly. Social problems include stealing money to buy drugs, neglecting families and spend too much money on drugs. The drugs Traffickers are protected and there are masterminds who are protecting them. Ironically, their target market is the youngsters mostly. Our youngsters are being affected due to these drugs. Overdose of drugs like “synthé” are killing our adolescents. We cannot sit doing nothing.

We must raise our voice and let them hear us. We are losing our citizens and they are not to be blamed. Fingers must be pointed to the law as the government must enforce the laws for those drug traders. However, the government is doing a great job by tracing some of them. Nevertheless, another villain has been introduced as Rambo and which has caused the death of a teenager yet. We really got to fight against all these and join the manifestations organized by the youngsters. Save our youth for a better future!

What about another way to solve this problem, Ganja maybe?

Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. It is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Its use is widespread among young people. According to a yearly survey of middle and high school students, rates of marijuana use have steadied in the past few years after several years of increase.

However, the number of young people who believe marijuana use is risky is decreasing. This herb is a green, brown, or gray mix of dried, crumbled leaves from the marijuana plant. Marijuana can be rolled up and smoked like a cigarette (called a joint) or a cigar (called a blunt). It can also be smoked in a pipe. Sometimes people mix it in food and eat it. Marijuana can make you feel silly, relaxed, sleepy, and happy—or nervous and scared. It may change your senses of sight, hearing, and touch.

Weed can make it hard to think clearly. It makes you feel like time is slowing down. Minutes can feel like hours. At the same time, everyday sights, sounds, and tastes may seem really interesting or funny. Cannabis can make you feel very hungry. You want to eat lots of junk food. Marijuana smells good… those who have tried it say that it has a perfect aroma and smells way better than cigarette. Indeed once you are tempted to taste that marijuana, most of the time it’s difficult to quit.

Drugs themselves are defined as poison. They are man-made, that’s why they are called “synthetic drugs”.

Why do people smoke cannabis? To get a feeling of euphoria, to feel relaxed, to kill boredom and to escape from problems. Of course, the ones who consume it are definitely unaware of the side effects of cannabis. Whether it is a drug or a herb, the problems to be faced are the same. Maybe, you won’t feel how it is affecting your health. The side effects include; feeling dizzy and laugh for no reason. Even when you are trying to quit you will be in a bad mood and hereafter feel the need of the marijuana. But, just like everything has its pros and cons, marijuana also has its “advantages”. It was found in a study published in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, that “Cannabidiol” has the ability to stop cancer by turning off a gene called Id-1. Analysis proves that marijuana prevents Alzheimer, kills cancer cells, decreases anxiety, and protects brain after stroke.

According to a recent article of Huff post Politics, agree or not, marijuana is way better than drugs like heroin. It’s different. Marijuana is a herb and a natural plant. On the flip side of the coin, we have cultures which implies drug dealing or to be more precised, herb dealing. Marijuana is not a bad thing either. It is a herb and it is natural. It is not like drugs. Moreover, marijuana or cannabis form part of the Abraham cultures who are the Rastafarians. For these people, Marijuana is a “good thing” and not considered as a drug. In fact, it is not a drug. In a way or another we must understand and respect their respective cultures just like others. For the Rastafarians, they perceive that depenalizing Ganja is their rights and will be fair enough towards them. Indeed there is a huge difference between legalization and depenalization.

It is said that people should be educated to the fact than marijuana is not a drug. It is a herb and a flower but Drugs take you to hell disguised as heaven. Drugs are a waste of time; destroy your memory and self-respect and everything that goes along with your self-esteem.

Herb is the healing of nation and alcohol is the destruction said Bob Marley.

I say that you don’t need heroin to be a hero!

Shaistah L.Imambaccus

Form 4, DMC