Youngsters at risk
TEENS tend to experiment.
Curious youths dabbling in drugs is not a new problem, said Universiti Malaya Centre of Addiction Sciences (UMCAS) chief coordinator Assoc Prof Dr Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin.
“What we’re seeing now is no more different from what’s happened in the past. The difference is the type of drugs being used. The ones being consumed now seem to be more addictive, are cheaper and more accessible compared to before. You can even get them delivered to you these days,” said Dr Amer Siddiq, who is also a consultant psychiatrist and the faculty of medicine’s internationalisation unit head.
Lately, there have been reports of youths experimenting with stimulant type drugs to stay alert, awake, and focused, he noted. Unfortunately, these drugs are often synthetic, and with impurities.
“This, coupled with the way the drug works, may have a faster impact on those prone to psychological complications. The desire to succeed might be why some youths are using it but often, it’s peer pressure to fit in or the urge to experiment, that lures them in.”
Parents must keep an eye on their children, no matter how busy they are, he stressed, warning that most of the drugs currently being abused among the youth are stimulant types like syabu, methamphetamine and amphetamine. Parents, he said, should look out for these signs: > Behaviour change;
> Lack of need for sleep; > Spending more money than usual;
> Neglecting self-care; and > Extremely energetic, talkative, and full of ideas;
Rehabilitating an adult versus
Parents must keep an eye on their children, no matter how busy they hey are. Dr Amer Sidd diq
a teenager, isn’t the same, he said.
The teenage brain is still developing, and is at risk for sustained damage if the drug was taken at a very early age, he explained.
More importantly, due to their maturity level, treating youths is different and challenging. Unlike adults, their personalities are still developing.
“Youths may also not be aware about the potential consequences of getting caught for a drug offence.”
As a nation, we must continue with programmes that instil a sense of community, and preventing the use of alcohol and tobacco, among youths, he suggested.
Forced rehabilitation, doesn’t work very well, he noted.
“Sadly it also results in detained youths having a ‘record’ which is detrimental to their future. If they were experimenting, it doesn’t mean they are addicted. We have to rethink addiction and how we should be tackling this as a nation,” he said, adding that there must be different strategies depending on the user’s drug of choice. No youth must be left behind in the war against drugs.