Today, the problem of drug ab u se among youth has gained greater importance and increased interest in various sociocultural and economic strata. Although exact numbers are not available to gauge the true extent of the problem, drug addicts reporting to counseling centers in the country point out that the problem has spread across various age groups and much among the 16 to 25-year-old youth.
The age group in which youth finds itself means the transformation of an adolescent into a young person, which is usually accompanied by the trials and tribulations of a "child" to become an "adult". A bundle of exuberant but unruly energy, he enjoys taking risks and experimenting with new things. In his quest to gain recognition and status among his peers, he longs to taste the "forbidden fruit." Such behavior often brings him into open or covert conflict with his parents and "parental figures", leading to the much-discussed "generation conflict" and "generation gap". The situation was further complicated by the rapid social transformation brought to society by rapid industrialization, urbanization and rural-to-urban migration. It eroded traditional, informal mechanisms of social control and even brought about changes in family structure, from joint to nuclear, or at best, extended family.
The "media explosion" has made the world smaller, especially for young people, and they are now more aware of things around them. It also increased their level of aspiration and ambition. With increasing materialism, consumerism, and individualism, modern youth are drifting away from their traditional roots and struggling to cope with ever-increasing societal pressures. Furthermore, growing economic pressures are forcing more and more parents to work full-time, leaving the child, and even the youth, alone at home or in the company of friends. Without suitable programs to employ them, they become easy prey for anti-social activities, including drug ab u se.
The reasons why young people resort to drug ab u se can be varied, from mere curiosity to a tendency to experiment. It can be an expression of his revolt against the established authorities, a way to gain recognition in his group, or simply not being able to say "NO" when offered.
Therefore, creating an awareness or preventive education program for youth is a must. In building immunity among them, it would promote self-esteem and determination, provide experiences that encourage self-esteem and a sense of dignity, strengthen personal and social skills that are necessary to function in a rapidly transforming society, and provide professional skills.
More importantly, the leisure activities of student and non-student youth, are organized to allow healthy recreation and constructive work habits. As it is obvious, a young person feels more at home in his age group. Therefore, it is natural for the more active groups among them to reach out to them.
In Bangladesh, a lot of emphasis has been placed on drug awareness among the youth, as they are considered the most valuable asset for human resource development. Financial and technical assistance is provided by the government and NGOs to help them with activities such as sociocultural programs. Experience has shown that such programs have a beneficial impact if supported by a good follow-up program.
We also realized that the power of youth can be used not only to prevent young people from the disease of addiction, but also by improving the environment in which they live. One such example is the "Rainy Day" concert organized by Pro tho m ALO to celebrate the International Day against drug ab u se and drug trafficking. About 15,000 young people who said "No to drugs" vowed to start a nationwide anti-drug movement.
Hat's off to An u she h who had the guts to open up about her once drug addicted life. An u she h, you can be a good ambassador to help drug addicts get back on track. These activities/programs help identify addicts in their own peer groups. Daredevils young as they are, they are proving to be an asset in reaching rather inaccessible areas of the community such as areas of addiction.
Many times, their association with traffickers, pushers, and peddlers makes it difficult to influence addicts to quit their habit. It was here that the youth, voluntary organizations, managed not only to create awareness, but also to gain support for the fight against drug trafficking, drug pushing and distribution.
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