Drug Tsunami: How do parents deal?

In-depth reports by media regarding nabbing the drug baron, dealers, traffickers and their modus-operandi of Yaba are appalling. It is said to be the biggest cache ever in Bangladesh.

Yaba is a methamphetamine-based drug originating from Thailand with alarmingly dangerous properties. Thai for "crazy medicine," Yaba pills are very small in size (about the size of a pencil eraser). Yaba tablets are sometimes flavored (grape, orange, and vanilla). They are a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine. Tasting like candy, the tablets are marketed to a young audience, particularly at rave's. Also known as "Nazi speed" because of its creation by German scientists during World War II to increase the endurance of their soldiers.Yaba is extremely addictive and can cause elevated blood pressure and body temperature, irregular heartbeat, hallucinations, stroke and death. It is popular with young people. For more information visit www.drugs-info-co.uk Yaba in Bangladesh is popular amongst the affluent teens and adolescent.

Still more shocking to read about its popularity among young girls of about 16-18 years as it helps dramatic weight loss in addition to insomnia.

Worst is that few of the peddlers enticed the young girls with weight loss promises, gave them refuge in their drug den to start using Yaba and went a further step by becoming sexually involved.

Coordinator of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said, the city flooded with drugs is not a new phenomenon.” Absent of political and governance of political society and a trend among ‘drug lords’ to make quick money are main reason behind this sudden surge,” he explained.

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), Rapid Action Battalion (RA and the police are working in tandem. Improved coordination between DNC and the law enforcing agencies will bring forth more result.

There is no statistic available relating to drug addict, the NGO’s put an estimated figure of 3,00,0000 in Dhaka city alone. The core target is young boys of girls 12-18 years. What was creeping yesterday today is an approaching drug tsunami. Precaution is better than cure-parenting is therefore one of the top most precautions.

Beside, enticing and deploying different tactics by the peddlers, other factors like lifestyle, invasion of foreign culture and civic ambience are also some of the ignition points to drug addict and risqué behavior among the teens in Dhaka city. Yaba, cannot be the only reason for the rise of drug addicts. Ecstasy is known to produce a euphoric effect, causing the teens to have strong feelings of warmth and” connection” to those around them.


Talking about ignition points, let start with Dhanmandi Lake, where it is a common sight of teens of both sexes, the boys puffing and intimately sitting with their partner. Most of these boys and girls bunk school, college and private universities. It is embarrassing for senior citizens, who use this green civic facility in the concrete jungle of Dhaka for fresh air and to walk.

Fused street lights in Dhanmandi are a cozy spot for teen couple from colleges and private universities for petting and whiffing . The City Corporation can come to rescue by cleansing the ambience of the lake and fixing the street light.

As for lifestyle, groovy hangouts with dingy lights are in-thing for twosome teens to spend time cuddling. The place stings of smoke and the sight is obscene.

Celebrating, recklessly and going overboard on New Years eve31st. and Valentine day is a fad. These events are no way related to our culture, it may be called as juvenile globalization! It is reported that risk pregnancy is high during such occasions. Parents need to beware of the invading culture. The above ignition points offers sanctuary for surreptitious peddling.

Cyber Café’s are unique in Bangladesh, like fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) offering, “buy one and get one free,”i.e., two users are allowed but charges for one. Beside, the booths, semi-booth offers privacy, thus allows freedom to the young people to log in promo and drug sites. Perhaps, it is here that the incubation to sex and drugs occur. Heavy rush of school, college and private university student’s in pair visit the cyber café mostly in pairs during mid afternoon.

Opposed, to the unique service of Cyber Café’s in Bangladesh, in foreign countries it is open; the users are monitored and if found visiting abusive sights they are punished. Can’t we have Cyber Café’s like those in Bangladesh? Cyber Café’s in Bangladesh badly needs rules and regulations for operating.

A co-ed coaching centre offering “O” and “A” levels operating in Dhanmondi, where student of puberty age are found adjacent to the gate musing in the footpath, but that’s not all, the teen girls wear provocative winsome dresses drawing attraction of their male classmate. Now, the question is how does the teaching staff allow such objectionable dresses? Don’t they have a moral obligation in up-brining the students? Why is the coaching centre so indiscreet with no signboard?

Many families are ruined when a child member is addicted. According to experts, there are instances when the parent’s relationship drift apart and even marriages break up due to accusing each other for the addiction of their children. Broken families are the worst victim. A congenial home atmosphere is essential for raising drug-free children.

The growth of a child from 13 to 18 years can be seen to take place over night: new friends, new school, new clothes, and a different attitude. That’s why keeping parenting style synchronized with one’s child transition from adolescent to teen is an important step in helping both to survive this challenging phase of one’s child’s life.

So, how can parent tell if their child is using drugs or alcohol? It is difficult because changes in mood or attitudes, unusual temper outbursts, changes in sleeping habits and changes in hobbies or other interests are common in teens. What should they look for? Parents can also look for signs of depression, withdrawal, carelessness with grooming or hostility. Also ask yourself, is your child doing well in studies, getting along with friends, taking part in sports or other activities?

Here is a watch list for parent: Changes in friends; negative changes in schoolwork; missing school, or declining grades; increased secrecy about possessions or activities; use of incense, room deodorant, or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors; subtle changes in conversations with friends, e.g. more secretive, using “coded” language; change in clothing choices: new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use, increase in borrowing money, evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, etc.,evidence of excessive use of inhalant products (such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, common household products); rags and paper bags are sometimes used as accessories, bottles of eye drops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils, new use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol, missing prescription drugs—especially narcotics and mood stabilizers

These changes often signal that something harmful is going on—and often that involves drugs in some case alcohol. However, some of these signs also indicate there may be a deeper problem with depression, gang involvement, or suicide. Be on the watch for these signs so that you can spot trouble before it goes too far.

To raise healthy drug-free girls, here are ways this can also be applied to boys: Give her your time and attention regularly; Inspire your daughter’s interests and talents to help her build strong self-esteem; Research shows that many girls experience a sharp decline in their self-esteem and self-confidence during early adolescence. Love but limit. Parents can help their daughter develop a healthy sense of worth. Recognize good behaviors of your daughter often.

Praise your daughter as often as possible. Show love, warmth and interest in your teen, but set clear “no-drug” rules, limit time spent watching TV and using the Internet, check message of mobile phones like romance message, late night use of mobile phone and miss calls. The mobile phone operators could contribute to healthy growing children by restricting such messages of age groups 12-18 years. Always know where your daughter is, whom she is with and what she is doing. Know her friends and the parents of those friends. Have regular check-in times.

Attend your daughter's school, college and university events and recreational activities. It will make your teen feel loved, help her maintain good grades and increase her enjoyment of school, college and university.

Adolescence can be a tough time in your daughter’s life. She is still developing physically and mentally, and growing increasingly more independent. But even though she may look like a young adult, she still needs you to set limits and give guidance.

The high school, years can bring with them overwhelming pressures, which can lead to risky behaviors like smoking, and drug use. Stress is a major factor. Adolescence can be a stressful process for teens. You can be a more supportive parent by understanding where the stress is coming from and model positive, healthy behavior and coping skills. Set positive examples on how to cope with stress, such as setting realistic goals, learning to prioritize, getting enough sleep and engaging in sports activity. Parental monitoring has been shown to be effective in reducing risky behaviors among adolescent and teens.

Bangladesh Chatromukti organized a seminar on drug abuse in Dhanmoni WVA auditorium on 05 Nov. These students deserve appreciation. It is expected that multinational company like Bangladesh Tobacco selling cigarettes and Mobile Operators will come forward to sponsor such seminars giving awareness messages instead of romance messages.

Let us as parents find some slot in our hectic time machine to help to navigate our children through this most turbulent and stressful time of growing up. Having meals or watching TV is one of the examples of giving time children, this helps in narrowing the formidable barrier of so called generation gap. Giving time to children brings them close to parents, makes them less fearful to express their problems. Children having close relation with parents are less likely to take drugs or get involved in other immoral activities.

Parenting alone is not enough, teachers, peers, city corporation, NGO’s, DNC, Law enforcing authorities, Cyber Café owners, Multinationals, Mobile Operators and the list is endless, who in their own capacity can be a player to help the children and give the nation a drug-free, healthy and intelligent youths-degraded youths give a degraded nation!
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Billy I Ahmed is a Columnist and Researcher


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Billy I Ahmed, is a Columnist and Researcher, writing for leading English Dailies and Journal in Bangladesh as well as overseas online newsletter. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, in print or electronic media without written permission of the author. For reproducing or reprint, please contact the author by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it You may also
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*************************************************************<br><br> Post edited by: Billy, at: 2007/11/09 14:27