Various organisations that assist families in need report a growing use of drug use in Secunda. This is not a new phenomenon, but increased pressure on many fronts may see many new dependants.

The following statistics and signs are sobering facts:

Heroin
( Thai White, Browns, Spike, Brown Sugar, Dope, Horse, Skunk, Magic Dragon, Smack, Junk, Mud, Black Tar, H, Gear, Boy, Dragon, Harry, Nyaope)

Heroin use is a lethal game of Russian roulette: infection, overdose and death are just some of the possible outcomes. Heroin enters the brain very quickly. This effect makes it very addictive. And each time you use heroin, the more you need to get high. One of the greatest risks with this drug is how extremely easy it is to become dependent Like other opiates; heroin use blocks the brain’s ability to perceive pain.

It’s nearly impossible to know the actual strength or purity of heroin because it’s often combined with toxic ingredients.

Heroin often has additives that will not dissolve in the bloodstream. This can easily cause a blood clot to form and travel to the lungs, liver, heart or brain, which is instantly fatal.

Effects of heroin intoxication:

1. Shortness of breath
2. Dry mouth
3. Constricted (small) pupils
4. Sudden changes in behaviour or actions
5. Disorientation
6. Cycles of hyper alertness followed by suddenly nodding off
7. Droopy appearance, as if extremities are heavy

Behavioural signs of heroin addiction:

1. Lying or other deceptive behaviour
2. Avoiding eye contact, or distant field of vision
3. Substantial increases in time spent sleeping
4. Increase in slurred, garbled or incoherent speech
5. Sudden worsening of performance in school or work, including expulsion or loss of jobs
6. Decreasing attention to hygiene and physical appearance
7. Loss of motivation and apathy toward future goals
8. Withdrawal from friends and family, instead spending time with new friends with no natural tie
9. Lack of interest in hobbies and favourite activities
10. Repeatedly stealing or borrowing money from loved ones, or unexplained absence of valuables
11. Hostile behaviours toward loved ones, including blaming them for withdrawal or broken commitments
12. Regular comments indicating a decline in self-esteem or worsening body image
13. Wearing long pants or long sleeves to hide needle marks, even in very warm weather

COCAINE

The side effects are similar to those of cocaine: it causes euphoria, increased alertness, anxiety, loss of appetite, slurred speech, dilated pupils, strange erratic behaviour, body aches, stomach pains, nausea and fatigue.

The effect lasts 4-6 hours.

Long term effects are: abscesses, dark black rings under eyes, quick aging, disorientation, indifference, hallucinations, psychosis, seizures, convulsions, respiratory failure, stroke, heart failure, death.

DAGGA

Fast facts on dagga

1. Dagga is the most commonly used illegal drug.
2. South Africa’s dagga use is twice the world norm.
3. An estimated R3560 million per year is spend on purchasing dagga.
4. Dagga is extremely dangerous because it can lead to permanent insanity.
5. Dagga is not as physically addictive as many other drugs, but it causes severe
EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCY.
6. One dagga cigarette contains 150 cancer causing agents – much more than tobacco.
7. Dagga tends to stay in the fatty tissue of the body for long periods of time.
8. It takes away the user’s sense of responsibility and ambition.
9. One joint smoked three times a week for one year has the same effect as 80 hours of radiation on the human body.
10. Frequent dagga use brings less desire for sex and leads to poor performance.
11. In the long run it will cause sterility and abnormality in babies.
12. Dagga kills brain cells. Dead brain cells can not heal or regenerate itself again.
13. Dagga makes you suffer from short term memory loss.
14. Myth: Dagga is an African tradition. Truth: It was limited to a once a week social event for elderly men with strict rules. The tradition did not harm the Africans because it always excluded youngsters.

Dagga belongs to the depressant category of drugs, as it slows down communication between the brain and body.

It hampers the physical development of a child and can lead to psychological defects. The greatest danger of Dagga is that it is a forerunner for harder drugs, therefore it is known as the “Gate Way Drug”.

 Marijuana Causes Long-term Brain Changes

The drug is usually smoked, but it can also be eaten. Its smoke irritates your lungs more and contains more cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco smoke. Common effects of marijuana use include pleasure, relaxation, and impaired co-ordination and memory. Marijuana over activates the endo-cannabinoid system, causing the high and other effects that users experience. These include distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty with thinking and problem solving, and disrupted learning and memory.

 FURTHER SIDE-EFFECTS OF DAGGA

1. Amnesia
2. Sterility
3. Emphysema / Lung deceases
4. Emotional and Spiritual problems
5. Lowered Libido
6. Weakened Liver functions
7. Overall deterioration in health
8. Brain damage

PREVENTION

As with most things, the answer lies in a real RELATIONSHIP with parents and caring adults/friends. There is no substitute for an open and honest relationship and involvement in one anothers’ lives. Only then will teens be willing to accept advice and facts that can assist them in withstanding peer pressure and negative influence. Have their friend hang out at YOUR place and get to know them. Provide plenty of opportunities to bond in the family and get involved in sport – any sport.

If you are an adult in the clutches of this terrible condition, GET HELP!