The effects of smoking and the use of illegal drugs on youths

It is indeed very sad to see a few number of Gambian youths, particularly students smoking in nook and cranny, in the streets and around shops close to their schools. 

They do not attend assemblies and very often dodge classes.  They hang around the neighborhood with cigarettes or marijuana on their mouths.  
Often when asked why they smoke, they would say “I smoke to forget about my problems,” “because my parents smokes and sends me to buy cigarettes,” “because I see my teacher smoking,” “because all my friends are smokers,” “because it makes me feel high! “It makes me feel accepted by my circle of friends.”  And if you ask “what do you benefit from smoking?  They would say please mind your business! And if you persist, they will provoke a fight with you by throwing nasty insults.

This scenario is indeed an urgent problem that needs serious attention. These students perhaps do not yet fully grasp the dangers involved in smoking.  I kindly and humbly implore all school authorities, government and all stakeholders to be constantly vigilant and take bold steps to help in alleviating or eradicating this problem before its gets really out of hand.

The youth are the engine of the ship of state and if the engine breaks down, the ship will not move.  The engine must undergo maintenance from time to time. If the youths are not adequately sensitised and counsel, they may easily take to other more dangerous, illicit drugs that  may eventually lead to lose of lives and resources.

Don’t you know that smoking particularly cause diseases related to lungs such as pneumonia, and tuberculosis?  For your information, it also causes heart attack, lung cancer, stomach and intestinal ulcer and many other killer diseases. In fact many smokers also develop serious shortness of breath, and not only that, it is also interesting to note that the smoke that comes out of the cigarette pollutes the atmosphere and contributes in destroying the ozone layer that protects us from the scourging heat of the sun.

Don't you know that medical research have shown that the average life expectancy of a smoker is three to four years less than that of a non-smoker? If there is a smoker in this hall, I advise you to quit just right now. You will not want to die too quickly or be a person dying standing up! will you? What profit will one gain from smoking then? It only shows a high mark of foolishness and self-indulgence, or lack of self-discipline.

Smoking won’t ease your frustration, but only aggravates it. It won’t eliminate your property, it will only increase it.  It may stimulate you only for a moment, but it will ruin all your life. It may make you popular with your smoker friends, but it will distant you from descent people.

A youth who is hardened to smoking may easily take in hard drugs because the cigarette will not be strong enough to satisfy his/her appetite in the long-run.  After a while he/she will become hooked or addicted to the drug, and will hardly be able to do away with it.

When this happens the craven for drugs intensifies day by day and if he/she does not take it, he/she becomes a mad person and behaves exactly like a wild beast.  In most cases the drugs are so expensive that he/she may not be able to afford the cost an will do all he can to get the money by hook or crook.  He will then resort to stealing with violence, robbing and even killing people to meet the cost of his dose.

Most students who take smokers t o smoking and take in drugs eventually become school drop outs, take arms at night and go on robbing just to buy drugs. They cause lots of crimes and unnecessary problems in their homes, and in public places, blame their family, parents, teachers and even government for their ordeal.

Reliable sources have shown that, in 1992, a young man while under the influence of drugs, stabbed his father and slaughtered his three year old nephew.  In another instance in 1993 another young man also killed his father and wounded his brother very seriously while under the influence of drugs, and a few years ago another young man killed a child in Banjul for no reason other than hatred and jealousy.  

Many youths get sick and die because of drug abuse.  The number of youths who are in prison for drug related reasons, is increasing rapidly.  As I speak, there are also many mentally illed youths in Campama Psychiatric Centre in Banjul, so useless and unable to participate meaningfully towards the development of this nation. 

What a pity!
My dear compatriots and colleagues, tell me; is this not a waste of human resources?  How long can we allow this menace?  Don’t we need to look into this matter more seriously?

On a more serious note, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank WHO who in collaboration with the Departments of State for Health and Education have officially recognised Latrikunda Upper Basic School as (Smoke free inside). The table was inaugurated by the former SoS Department of State for Health, Dr Tamsir Mbowe, on the 31st day of May, 2007.

Let us all join hands to vigorously fight against smoking and the abuse of drugs and so as to enhance socio-economic development in all sectors of this nation.

Say no to smoking!
Say no to drug abuse!