University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences

The addiction trap disguised as recreational substances Why saying no is the only way to survive

 

While a new wave of drugs with deceptive names like herbal and recreational are targeting community health, Dr. Kamyar Ghani warned that to stay safe from the irreparable consequences of these substances, saying no to the temptation of use is the most effective and easiest way to determine the distance between a healthy life and entering the deadly cycle of addiction.

According to the university web-day report citing Fars News Agency, in analyzing the current state of the addiction field, emphasizing that talking about this problem goes beyond stating statistics and numbers, Dr. Kamyar Ghani stated: Behind every number, there is a human being with a family and a life that is directly or indirectly harmed by this issue.

Referring to the gradual changes in the country's substance consumption patterns, this addiction expert explained: For years, opium and its derivatives were the primary substances consumed, but recent transformations, including the ban on poppy cultivation in Afghanistan and the increase in the price of opium, have limited consumers' access. Following these changes, many turned to opium tincture, which played a vital role for patients under treatment; however, the reduction in production and shortage of this medicine in medical centers have presented patients with a serious challenge. This situation has put individuals at risk of returning to street drugs or exiting the treatment cycle.

 

Shisheh An emerging threat with devastating consequences

Dr. Ghani, referring to the spread of meth (methamphetamine) alongside traditional opium, warned about the destructive effects of this substance and said: Meth, by causing hallucinations, aggression, and madness, not only endangers the life of the user but also seriously threatens those around them.

In an analogy, he compared the situation of confused consumers in the drug market to a driver whose car has broken down and, because the original part is rare, is forced to use an unsafe part to get going somehow. This specialist added: Many consumers turn to it with the misconception that quitting meth is easy, but the reality is that the effects of this substance on the nervous system are, in many cases, permanent and irreparable.

 

Entry of dangerous and unknown drugs into the market

 

In another part of his remarks, this researcher at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences revealed a new and very dangerous threat. He said: New substances under deceptive titles like herbal or recreational have entered the supply chain, which are often mixed with heroin or offered in the form of counterfeit pills.

Dr. Ghani clarified: The scariest part of the matter is that these substances

lack a specific composition, and even experts and laboratory diagnostic kits face limitations in rapidly and accurately identifying them

. The consumer, with the misconception of consuming the same usual dose, is unintentionally exposed to severe poisoning, respiratory arrest, and sudden death; a situation that can be compared to an unequal war with an unknown enemy.

 

Prevention The only way to victory

 

This addiction specialist concluded by emphasizing that saying no is much easier than the challenging process of overcoming addiction, noting that, given that in today's illegal market, the purity and nature of many substances are unknown, the only sure way to stay safe is complete avoidance of use. Prevention is always cheaper and more effective than treatment, and the sooner we can prevent individuals from entering the consumption cycle, the more lives we will save.