Rant & Rave
Rant & Rave
Illegal narcotics continue to plague society even though our government tries its best to halt their manufacturing and distribution. Are the government's efforts really enough, especially for crystal methamphetamine? Stop ‘ice’
addiction at homeThe drug has many names: ice, batu or rocks. The person that tries it usually ends up addicted.
Ice can cause drastic changes in personality, as well as upset a person's routines. "Tweakers" are those under the influence of ice, and for them, there is no setting between "off" and "high." Tweakers tend to lose sleep, for the drug keeps them awake. They stay awake for long periods, then rest for similarly unusual long periods.
Ice addicts demonstrate unreliable behavior; they tend to lie a lot.
People become addicted to this drug extremely easily because they don't think it will happen to them. Then when it's time to quit, they can't. Confront them about the problem and, as true of most drug dependents, they deny their addiction.
My experiences of dealing with friends on ice have stirred my strongest feelings about this drug. Standing by and watching them go down the road to addiction, and seeing the devastation suffered by them, their families and friends, has made me feel very helpless.
Most people believe that the only way to help addicts is to help them realize their dependence on drugs, but what if they realize it too late? After too many years of use, the effects of the drug can be irreversible. The most eye-opening fact that should stop people from trying it the first time is that with prolonged use, it kills part of the brain. Addicts develop permanent holes in their brains.
Stopping people from getting the drug would be a good solution, but that is difficult under current laws. Should police be allowed to search citizens for illegal drugs? Should students be searched in schools? It may be an invasion of privacy, but that could be what it takes to solve this problem.
There also need to be harsher penalties for those that sell the drug so that they won't do it again. Or maybe they can't because they'll be behind bars.
Our society also makes it too easy for people to become addicts again. I know this because I have called some drug rehabilitation programs and found out that addicts are not forced to stay. They may leave whenever they choose to, drug free or not. So how are we to cure these people, short of turning them in to the police?
Addicts should be confined to rehabilitation clinics so they can be totally clean before returning to society. Wouldn't everybody want the reassurance that when family members come out of a drug rehabilitation clinic that they are drug free for life?
Penalties may be harsh for ice users now, but why not make them worse? The laws should be stricter on people that were caught with ice before. Make it almost impossible for these people to get the drug. Anything to discourage them from taking this drug will help in the long run.
The message is clear. Anybody can become addicted to this drug: sons, daughters, mothers and fathers alike. Staying neutral and thinking that this drug will pass by your child is wishful thinking.
The best help is starting at home by educating your family about ice and its effects. It is far better than the alternative of having a police officer informing you of your child's drug problem.
Please stop this problem before it even gets a chance to start.
Nathan Yamada is a student at Kapiolani Community College. Rant & Rave is a Tuesday Star-Bulletin feature
allowing those 12 to 22 to serve up fresh perspectives.
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