Drugs are chemical substances that affect the normal functioning of the body and/or brain. Drugs are so harmful that countries across the world have decided to control them. It is against the law to sell and to take drugs.

Drugs main targets are adults and teenagers. Teenagers are often curious to know how it might feel to try drugs, or they could just be depressed. Sometimes, if they are under the effect of peer pressure, they think drug-taking will make them popular. Some may believe it is cool to take drugs but NO! There is nothing cool about taking drugs as this can lead to serious health issues. Moreover, even if you are depressed, there are other ways to make you feel happy like seeking help from a psychologist, from parents, from teachers or from trustworthy friends. You could even socialize by going to recreational places...

There is a wide range of illegal drugs that can be very harmful to your health. There is Marijuana, which is usually smoked in a cigarette and users feel dizzy and lost; Amphetamines which are usually sold as pills or powder and taken for working and/ or staying awake longer; Cocaine which is a powder that is snorted through the nose and that makes users feel happy at fi rst but they then feel tired and hungry and Heroin which is usually injected by a syringe. Another drug, which is popular amongst teenagers, is Steroids. It is used for body building but, if taken in excess, or if dosage is too strong, it becomes dangerous for the persons taking it as they will end up having the body of their nightmares instead of the body of their dreams. Teens taking drugs might feel happy and relaxed at fi rst but they then feel sick, tired, lost….

Some effects of drugs on a drug addict are:

◗eyes get red,

◗lung cancer,

◗respiratory diseases,

◗infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS. Scientifi c studies show

that people who start smoking and drinking at a young age are more likely to take illegal drugs.

Around 100 million to 200 million people aged between 15 to 64 years old are drug users.

Every year on the 26th of June, the United Nations Offi ce Drugs and Crime (UNODC) celebrate the International Day against Drug abuse and illicit traffi cking, which serves as a reminder of the need to combat the problems that illicit drugs cause to society. Therefore, this year i.e. 2013, the UNODC campaign is “Make health your “New high” in life, not drugs”.

The Goal of the UNODC is to mobilize, support and inspire people, especially the future generation, to act against drug abuse.

Like every year at Le Bocage International School, Form 3 students, learn about substance abuse through the Lifeskills curriculum. This year, we have been asked to do a project on the theme “Say NO to substance abuse! (drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.) We have been asked to research on all the above and we discussed the topics in class. We were also asked to start a campaign inside and/or outside school on the negative effects of taking these substances. We also considered the consequences of consuming them. I chose to write an article on Drugs for the World Anti-drug day as there is a lack of awareness on this issue.

This article focuses more on teenagers as they are the future. If they do not act today, it will affect the future of this world and it will harm only them. “Make health your “new high in life”, not drugs!