Drug addiction refers to an extreme attraction to any particular drug especially narcotic drugs. It is one of the biggest obstacles on the way to individual, social, national development to any country. Most of the countries of the world; big or small, developed or developing are facing the menace of drug addiction. Our favourite motherland-Bangladesh is also not free of this problem.
When a man starts drug addiction, he becomes addicted to it forever and goes on increasing its dose. In the first phase of drug addiction his brain cells become irritated and his faculties of rationality, i.e., judgment, observation and attention get blunted. In the second phase, the addict feels as if he is not aware of his own self. In the third phase, as the victim increases the dosage and frequency, he loses his physical balance and muscular coordination entirely. It also causes a severe loss of appetite and weight, physical strength, will power, and memory.
Research shows that most people become addicted to drugs due to poverty, unemployment, and any unwanted events in life. A good number of teenagers are addicted to drugs in our country. Most of the time, they first accept drug due to curiosity and the persuasion of so-called friends. Lack of enough parental love and care, refusal from the lover are also important reasons to the teenagers to accept drugs. Once tasted, it becomes a habit very soon. Besides, in different cultural and even religious festivals a common tradition is to take alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs.
Drug ruins the individual and the society in manifold ways-socially, physically, culturally, emotionally and economically. It distorts the family ties and causes family disorganization, creating marital discord, divorce and the socialization failure of children. It also shatters the dreams of a normal life. In due course, the addict gets alienated from the mainstream of family, neighborhood and society.
The most horrible thing is that the drug-addicts can not do without the drug even for a short while. They must get their dose of it at the fixed time and if they do not get it, they feel weak and become incapable of the least movement. So they are compelled to collect money anyhow. And to collect this money they become immoral and commit various types of crimes.
It is a matter of great regret that, the number of addicted people in our country is increasing day by day. There are thousands of addicted people in Bangladesh and most of them are young, between the ages of 18 and 30. In the places like hostels and campuses of the universities, a big number of students are freely using charas, ganja, heroin, brown sugar etc. This must be checked anyhow. The consciousness and monitoring of the guardians can play a vital role here. Besides, the government also should ensure the proper environment of education and entertainment.
Drugs deter a person from living a normal life. An addicted man is a prisoner of confusion and he digs his own grave. It deviate a person from the right path. Hence we all should say no to drugs.
