DO DOPE, LOOSE HOPE

Parents face a number of challenges to raise their happy, healthy children in the 21^st Century. Chief among their concerns nowadays is the specter of drug abuse. Those parents who are struggling with a child who abuses or is addicted to drugs have a much more difficult road ahead.

  Drug dependence means that a person needs a drug to function normally. Abruptly stopping the drug leads to withdrawal symptoms. Drug addiction is the compulsive use of a substance, despite its negative or dangerous effects.

  A person may have a physical dependence on a substance without having an addiction. For example, certain blood pressure medications do not cause addiction but they can cause physical dependence. Other drugs, such as cocaine, cause addiction without leading to physical dependence.

  Tolerance to a drug (needing a higher dose to attain the same effect) is usually part of addiction.

  There are several stages of drug use that may lead to dependence. Young people seem to move more quickly through the stages than do adults.

• Experimental use -- typically involves peers, done for recreational use; the user may enjoy defying parents or other authority figures. Regular use -- the user misses more and more school or work; worries about losing drug source; uses drugs to "fix" negative feelings; begins to stay away from friends and family; may change friends to those who are regular users; shows increased tolerance and ability to "handle" the drug.
• Daily preoccupation -- the user loses any motivation; does not care about school and work; has obvious behavior changes; thinking about drug use is more important than all other interests, including relationships; the user becomes secretive; may begin dealing drugs to help support habit; use of other, harder drugs may increase; legal problems may increase.
• Dependence -- cannot face daily life without drugs; denies problem; physical condition gets worse; loss of "control" over use; may become suicidal; financial and legal problems get worse; may have broken ties with family members or friends.

  Commonly abused substances include:

• Opiates and narcotics are powerful painkillers that cause drowsiness (sedation) and sometimes feelings of euphoria. These include heroin, opium, codeine, meperidine (Demerol), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and oxycodone (Oxycontin).
• Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants include amphetamines, cocaine, dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine, andmethylphenidate (Ritalin). These drugs have a stimulating effect, and people can start needing higher amounts of these drugs to feel the same effect (tolerance).
• Central nervous system depressants include alcohol, barbiturates (amobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital), benzodiazepines (Valium, Ativan, Xanax), chloral hydrate, and paraldehyde. These substances produce a sedative and anxiety-reducing effect, which can lead to dependence.
•  Hallucinogens include LSD, mescaline, psilocybin ("mushrooms"), and phencyclidine (PCP or "angel dust"). They can cause people to see things that aren't there (hallucinations) and can lead to psychological dependence.
• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient found in marijuana (cannabis) and hashish.

  Drug abuse has led to a detrimental impact on the society. It has led to increase in the crime rate. Addicts resort to crime to pay for their drugs. Drugs remove inhibition and impair judgment egging one on to commit offences. Incidence of eve- teasing, group clashes, assault and impulsive murders increase with drug abuse. Apart from affecting the financial stability, addiction increases conflicts and causes untold emotional pain for every member of the family. With most drug users being in the productive age group of 18-35 years, the loss in terms of human potential is incalculable. The damage to the physical, psychological, moral and intellectual growth of the youth is very high. Adolescent drug abuse is one of the major areas of concern in adolescent and young people's behavior. It is estimated that, in India, by the time most boys reach the ninth grade, about 50 percent of them have tried at least one of the gateway drugs. However, there is a wide regional variation across states in term of the incidence of the substance abuse. For example, a larger proportion of teens in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh use gateway drugs (about 60 percent in both the states) than Uttar Pradesh or Haryana (around 35 percent). Increase in incidences of HIV, hepatitis B and C and tuberculosis due to addiction adds the reservoir of infection in the community burdening the health care system further. Women in India face greater problems from drug abuse. The consequences include domestic violence and infection with HIV, as well as the financial burden. Eighty seven per cent of addicts being treated in a de-addiction center run by the Delhi police acknowledged being violent with family members. Most of the domestic violence is directed against women and occurs in the context of demands for money to buy drugs. At the national level, drug abuse is intrinsically linked with racketeering, conspiracy, corruption, illegal money transfers, terrorism and violence threatening the very stability of governments. 

  India has braced itself to face the menace of drug trafficking both at the national and international levels. Several measures involving innovative changes in enforcement, legal and judicial systems have been brought into effect. The introduction of death penalty for drug-related offences has been a major deterrent. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, were enacted with stringent provisions to curb this menace.

  June 26 is celebrated as International Day against Drug Abuseand Illicit Trafficking every year. It is an exercise undertaken by the world community to sensitize the people in general and the youth in particular, to the menace of drugs. The spread and entrenchment of drug abuse needs to be prevented, as the cost to the people, environment and economy will be colossal. The unseemly spectacle of unkempt drug abusers dotting lanes and by lanes, cinema halls and other public places should be enough to goad the authorities to act fast to remove the scourge of this social evil. Moreover, the spread of such reprehensible habits among the relatively young segment of society ought to be arrested at all cost. There is a need for the government enforcement agencies, the non-governmental philanthropic agencies, and others to collaborate and supplement each other's efforts for a solution to the problem of drug addiction through education and legal actions.

  So, please stop taking and trading drugs because Life is what you really make of it!! Get high on Life, not on Drugs as it is easier to stay off drugs than get off drugs!!

You Still Live with us

You can shed tears that he is gone,
Or you can smile because he lived.
You can close your eyes and pray he would come back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,
Or you can be full of the love he gave you.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he is gone,
Or you can cherish his memory and let it move on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes and go on.

They are not dead,
Who leave us with this heritage of remembering joy.
They still live in our hearts,
In the happiness we knew, in the dreams we shared.
HAPPY B'DAY DAD! RIP

The Myths and Superstitions of India

Undoubtedly myths, folk tales, stories which pass on from generation to generation are so very common in India. Along with that, superstitions also constitute a major part of our lives. I'm sure you must have heard of this statement: One man's belief is another man's superstition. All barriers are broken when it comes to superstitions. All you need is a panditji or a swamiji or a fakir to tell one that his mars is strong or bad period (shani) is reigning over him…that’s it! The person would leave no stone unturned in performing all the rituals that are required to be performed to set off the good period in his life.

  Unfortunately, many fail to realize that the same amount of dedication and conviction if applied in other aspects of life would do them much better. But the social evils in India are entrenched so deeply that cutting one rope would not be sufficient. Superstitions and the caste system go along at the same line with the people from the higher caste considering the lower caste people as untouchables.

  We, as the people of India have moved ahead in all aspects of life. So, why is it that it is so difficult to let go of our faith, beliefs and superstitions? We hear cases of daughters being sold off only because some swamiji has told the family that it would bring good luck to the clan. But these are certain serious offences which in times of today, are serious crimes overlooked by the society.

  On the other hand, the less serious superstitions which I would call stupidity include not passing by if a cat has cut across your way. Similarly, one should not cut nails or wash hair on specific days in a week. The reason behind the above is because they are considered to be inauspicious.

  As a 6-7 year old I had asked my mother - "Tell Me Why??" I guess, no parents would give a proper answer to their children for such question in those days.

Elderly ladies in my family have always said that there was a lot of wisdom in those beliefs which we call myths today. I had made a list of superstition followed blindly in India: 

1.Not to weep the floor after sunset.

2.Switching on the lights in the evening while chanting the name of God.

3.Not cross over or jump over the legs of a person who is sitting or lying down. This one may have a logic, as a person moving may loose balance. 

4.Never cross the road if a black cat has crossed the road before you.

5.Not washing clothes, not shaving or not buying oil/iron or not eating non vegetarian food on certain days of the week.

6.Dreams are believed to be one major indicator of the future happenings in our lives.

7.A sack full of rice will be spoilt when touched by women in periods! it will also get spoilt if touched by women after having sex .

8.Never ask the question "where are you going? " while they are leaving house, its purpose will not be fulfilled.

9.Unusual winking of eyes is a symptom of ill, luck or decease.

10.Taking a teaspoon of curd with litle sugar before exam will bring good luck.

11.While leaving home, sighting a widow or a barren woman is not lucky.

12.When there is a birth or death in the family, the members are not supposed to go to a temple or light a lamp at home, for 15 days.

13.Footwears keeping upside down brings fights in family. 

14.Wearing of white clothes by a married woman is considered inauspicious.

15.If you hear a dog whining at night it will bring bad luck, especially when some one in your family or neighbourhood is sick.

16.Many people do not make payments on Fridays, except giving small coins to beggars.

17.If you see an elephant on your way while going somewhere, your purpose of going will be fruitful. It is believed that Lord Ganesh, the elephant God of Indian mythology, removes all the obstacles on the way. 

18.If the girl's horoscope is matching well with the boy's horoscope, when they get married, they will have a successful married life.

19.To avoid seeing anything unpleasant in the morning, many people look at the palms of their hands as soon as they awaken and recite this invocation: "In the tips of the fingers resides Goddess Lakshmi; in the middle, Goddess Saraswathi; in the palm of the hand resides Goddess Parvathi; looking at my hands, I begin my day.

  There are still many more.In today’s context, do such practices really matter? Is one already destined or an individual makes his own destiny? When it comes to Indians and the removal of these superstitions, it would merely question the very existence of the people.

  What do you think about it? What superstitions you have followed or questioned in your life? Do you think there was any wisdom in the myths we carry along with us generation to generation?  Have you ever tried to think about the possible logic about the common beliefs your mother always told you?

  All in all, this is an issue of debate which would not end in the near future. All one can do is fight by spreading education and awareness. So, the shackles could only be broken when the chains are let loose. And the lock could only be opened with a key which is literacy and knowledge here.

Valentines Day.... Is it Special?

So, it's almost February, and I'm actually not so obsessed with wanting a valentine gift this year. Being nice to a guy for me is easy. Getting over them, not so much! So I am not really prepared to date a guy. But still i feel this day has a special importance for many, unlike me !!

   I do admit that this Valentines Day was created by greetings card companies to give people a reason to spend over billions of rupees on trying to show their loved ones how much they are appreciated and loved. No matter how much research you do, you will not be able to access the accurate roots of Valentines Day. Still it can't be bad, can it?

   There are more arguments out there that bash Valentine’s Day than those that love it, and I can understand why.  First of all, Valentine’s Day is not a holiday.  You still have to go to work.  Secondly, celebrating Valentine’s Day is not an option.  Either you step up and do something for your significant other or resign yourself to deadbeat status by her and all her girlfriends for a month.  Finally, especially for those sentimental people out there, the real kicker is the gifts you’re required to buy are pre-determined and thoughtless.  Valentine’s Day has made Love a compulsory demonstration of something materialistic and that is just sad.  Since when has something materialistic ever expressed true love?

Shakespeare described what true love should be best with his quote in King Lear:

I love you more than words can wield the matter;

Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;

No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor;

As much as child ever loved, or father found;

A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;

Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

Take note he did not say, “I love you so I spent some money on 1800flowers.com.”

If not even Shakespeare, the great poet and playwright, could describe the magnitude of love through words, how are you going to do that through a bucks box of chocolates worth few hundred bucks?  You cannot.  Love is an emotion and something to be expressed that is unique to each individual, and each couple.  This is why Valentine’s Day, according to many people, is stupid.

I however completely disagree.  I love Valentine’s Day.  I think its awesome and here’s why.  You’re pretty much guaranteed to “Get It On” during Valentine’s Day.  If you’re with a boyfriend, girlfriend, or whatever, you don’t even have to do very much to get it.  Just show up with flowers or a box of chocolates from your gift Shoppe and you’re a winner.  It is pretty much a done deal.

The point is I believe Valentine’s Day is a way for you to connect with your partner during a time where the world gives you time, space and opportunity to do it.  All you have to do is step up and I think that’s awesome.

Lots of couples also think it’s the only holiday to show the one you love what they really mean to you. That’s dumb! You have all the time in the world to show that person how much they mean to you. Sure, you can celebrate Valentine’s Day the other 364 days of year, but for this one day, the whole world comes together just for you to achieve your goal. Taking that person out to eat on that day and not any other day after that doesn’t show them anything. Girls like surprises. Take her out next week after Valentine’s Day, do something new in the relationship to show them you really care.

P.S  VALENTINES DAY is the easiest day of the year to find a date.  :D :D