OUR CHILDREN ARE smoking GANJA
published:
Wednesday | July 9, 2008
Wendel Abel - I AM WHAT I THINK
This matter of ganja use among young people is still very contentious and sometimes painful. Almost every day, I receive calls from frantic parents whose children are using ganja and who are seeking solutions.
We do know that ganja use is associated with a number of health problems. Approximately one in three students in secondary schools admit to 'ever using ganja' in Jamaica. Approximately one in 10 students admit to using the drug currently. As we would imagine, more males use ganja compared to females.
Many youngsters in Jamaica start using ganja between age 10 and 12. This is interesting as this a period of life when many young people are under stress. This represents the period in life when they are preparing for secondary school, they have to do the competitive GSAT examination and are making the difficult transition into adolescence.
Drug use begins with pain
Addiction begins and ends with pain. Many young people who use drugs do so to relax themselves and to numb their pain. A common source of pain lies within the family system. Family issues such as broken home, absent parents, conflict within the family and abuse within the family are common issues that create pain for our young people.
In many instances, the parents who are living through the pain themselves and who are sometimes the cause of the pain, fail to recognise the pain that their children are going through. Some parents do recognise their contribution to the pain but remain in denial or are too ashamed to seek help, hoping that the problem will disappear.
The enabling environment
The environment in Jamaica is one that facilitates ganja use. Ganja is available everywhere in this country. In addition, it is promoted in the popular culture and we have an ambivalent attitude towards the drug.
I was at an international conference recently and a highly educated person publicly asked me if everyone in Jamaica used ganja. Sad to say, this is a perception held by many worldwide.
Our young people therefore grow up in a difficult environment; one in which they are told not to use the drug, yet they see it being used all around them and even publicly.
How serious is ganja use?
The reality is that not everybody who uses ganja is affected by the drug but many persons who do use it are affected. Some of the common side effects which are reported, and which I see on a daily basis, include short-term memory impairment, paranoid reaction and some individuals may become quiet and withdrawn; they may stop socialising and attending school.
The short-term memory impairment that is associated with ganja use can affect students' ability to study and retain information. Those who become paranoid and suspicious with ganja use always suspect that people (even close friends and family) are plotting against them or are planning to do them harm. In many cases, it is their mothers who may be their only provider and caregiver. People who have paranoid reactions with ganja use may become aggressive and violent.
What can we do?
1. Can we stop people from using ganja? Yes, but it is difficult. Ganja addiction is not easy to treat. Many people believe that all that is needed is to take an individual to a detoxification unit to 'wash out' the drug. That is far from the truth. There is no effective drug that can be given to deal with ganja addiction and there is no 'wash out' that is given.
2. More education needed. We need to have a more comprehensive message on drug use in this country and this message should target young people. Effective programmes should use young people communicating to other young people.
3. Seek help early. If you suspect your child to be using ganja, seek professional help early. Unfortunately, many parents allow the situation to escalate out of control or they seek help from people who are not adequately trained to deal with the problem.
4 Stop the preaching and teaching. Many parents realise that they could 'chat until they drop' and the problem will not be solved. The fact is that addiction begins and ends with pain and, in many instances, we have to deal with the underlying pain in the child's life.
Dr Wendel Abel is a consultant psychiatrist and head, Section of Psychiatry, Dept Of Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
