DRUG ABUSE AMONG

TEENAGERS IN
MALAYSIA
 Definition of drug

 Drug is a chemical substance used in the

treatment, cure prevent, or diagnosis of
disease or used to otherwise enhance
physical or mental well-being.
 Kind of drug
• (a) Alcohol
• (b)Tobacco
• (c) Inhalant
• (d) Marijuana
• (e) Stimulants
• (f) Heroin
• (g) Steroids
 What is the causes of drug
among teenager?
• Curiosity
Humans are born curious and information about drugs
everywhere. It’s not hard to wonder what the hype is
about if you have never been taught otherwise .
• Gateway drugs
A person may have started out using something less
addicting such as Marijuana and looking for a better
high, they come in contact with heavier substances that
offer a different type of high.
• Anxiety, depression, low self esteem
and stress
These are some major factors that
almost had to bundle together because
they are all factors that deal with our
psyche. A person’s mood and state of
well being can play a large part in a
person’s perception of right or wrong.
When you add drugs into the mix, it
becomes a habitual circle of self
destruction.
• Peer pressure

This is not a kids only topic. Adults are also

pressured - Everyone has peers and if getting
high is what is acceptable in your social
setting or circle of influences, you will be
pressured to perform or act in the same way.
• Environment

This is all encompassing in my opinion. We are

all a reflection of our environment. If a person
is raised in a home where drugs were part of
life, or a culture where drugs are accepted,
then it is much more likely that they too will
become curious. Addiction generally doesn’t
follow too far behind
• Alteration of the perception of reality

Some addicts don’t even realize what that they

are doing. Addiction actually makes a person
believe they need it to survive. The physical and
mental symptoms of withdrawal can be too
hard to bare. There are also addicts that know
that they are altering their state of mind and do
it for just that reason.
How to detect drug abuse among
teenagers?
-School performance, declining grades, increased absences, reported
truancy .
-Withdrawal from hobbies, teams, family life .
-Marked change in behavior ranging from hostility to violence .
-Changes in energy level, having unusual amounts of energy or
increased fatigue .
-Increased secrecy about possessions or activities
-Use of incense, room freshener, or perfume to hide smoke or
chemical odours .
-Wearing new clothes that highlight drug use, or suggest
inappropriate conduct, or lack of -concern for appearance and
Grooming.
• -Evidence of drug paraphernalia, such as pipes and
rolling papers
-Evidence of eye drops used to mask bloodshot eyes
or dilated pupils
-Missing prescription drugs
-Unusual requests for money without reasonable
explanations for why they need it, discovering -money
has been stolen from your home or wallet, or finding
objects missing which may have been sold to support
a drug habit
 How to reduce drug abuse among teenagers?

1. OUTREACH PROGRAMME

• Educational – we go to schools, colleges and universities where we set up

exhibitions and organized drug awareness talk, forum or quiz for students.

• Entertaining and creative – organize rock concert at shopping malls, clubs,

schools, college and universities. We also do plays, pentomine with positive
messages.
Media outreach – radio talk show, tv interviews,internet, magazine and
newspapers, where we can outreach not only the young people but all
levels of society.
2. COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

• Community service - we also do outreach

programmes in the rural and residential areas by
organizing spring cleaning, exhibition and drug
awareness talks
• Religious program – getting religious leaders to give
religious / spiritual talks to enhance community /
spiritual values among village people.
3.SCHOOLS ACTIVITIES

• Extra Co-curiculum activities – sports, including anti

drug syllabus or campaign in every club in school.

• The use of peer presure as an effective form of

education for young people. (peer educators /
counselors). Providing training for peer educators
on counseling and life skills.
Parents Teachers' Association
4. FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

• Family education – getting the family involve

in schools and also when the teens are in
treatment. Giving them information and
providing them with education on topics like :-
'why people use drugs', 'signs of addiction',
'effective parenting', 'drugs and its effects'
 The effect of drug abuse among teenagers.

Short-Term Effects:

• “Rush”
• Depressed respiration
• Clouded mental functioning
• Nausea and vomiting
• Suppression of pain
• Spontaneous abortion
Long-Term Effects:
• Infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis)
• Collapsed veins
• Bacterial infections
• Abscesses
• Infection of heart lining and valves
• Arthritis and other rheumatologic problems
 Effects on society
• Drug abuse and addiction have a devastating impact
on society costing billions of dollars each year.
Heroin use alone is responsible for the epidemic
number of new cases of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and
drug addicted infants born each year. Drug abuse is
responsible for decreased job productivity and
attendance, increased healthcare costs, and an
escalation of domestic violence and violent crimes.
 The suggestion to reduce drug
abuse among teenagers
• 1. For an effective intervention programmes, we must focus on the
reducing of the risk factors
• 2. Getting the participation from all level of society (Teens,
community leaders, parents, teachers, law enforcers, religious
leaders.)
• 3. An ongoing and well planned intervention programme to ensure
effective result.
• 4. To the parents knowing about teenagers.…
WHERE they are at all times
WHAT they are doing
WHO they are with
Structure is achieved by defining and modeling acceptable
behaviors, by limiting unacceptable behaviors, and by making sure
your child clearly understands the difference.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
• http://www.teenageproblems.net/
• http://www.ikim.gov.my
• http://wsyukriah.wordpress.com
• Growing Up Drug–Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention – 1998
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence