Parents play a critical role in their children’s lives, especially Mothers. She is not fast, harsh, or strict. Neither is she ugly or unpleasant, nor useless. She is not literate or intelligent. Maybe she does not dress well, or her hair is scattered. Maybe she’s lost in the process of running a house. However, she is always a loving mother, in fact, she is only a mother who is struggling and knows how to bring the best out of her children. Bestowing love and affection is all she can think of, making her hair white as snow just for their wellbeing. Knowing the child would one day be older and refuse to respond to the mother’s cry, yet she is full of hope that her efforts will make them beautiful human beings.
A woman’s heart is stronger than it can be imagined, but it is weaker when the storm has passed. She can turn into a lioness to protect her children. Nevertheless, as she watches her child hurt that is one of the most terrifying experiences she can face as a parent. It is especially heart-wrenching when we know we cannot fix it. No matter if the hurt is physical or emotional, we feel our child’s pain. All the questions of good parenting create a commotion of “where did I go wrong?”. Children grow up regardless of good or bad parenting. They end up have the worst experiences, experiences of their own as tiny little human beings. However, parents worry about new perils they may experience that may push their adolescent children towards a dark path.
Unfortunately, at one point parenting is restricted due to the changing lifestyle of the young ones. Parents are unable to keep check and balance on their children. They neither feel comfortable being strict nor let their children fall for drugs. Yet, parents are unable to run after their children, especially teenagers due to their agitated attitudes. There is so much peer pressure, and social media enhancing smoking weed or cigarettes as a cool image among the children. Anything less than that can make them nerds or burger kids, a slur for kids.
One such risk is substance abuse such as alcohol, hash, weed, marijuana, cocaine, tobacco, ice, meth, and other drugs. Drug addiction begins with 90% of teenagers all over the world that has reported start smoking cigarettes the moment they step into secondary school which initiates a craving to experience more drugs. Attend parties, raves, and private clubs that only encourage different combinations of drugs. Unfortunately, some of the combinations lead to the death of minors due to cardiac arrest or brain damage. However, these transitioning phases of teenagers do not prevent drug abuse. It only damages the health, and wellbeing of innocent lives giving the drug sellers to prey on their curious minds.
Due to drug addiction, a child creates a ditch for him/herself and the people around them. The increasing gap between their family and friends. A parent’s worst nightmare is when their child is lost in his own world of pure madness and drugs. It drains the health and income of their parents that is for bringing them up. However, the child is unaware, captivated by a strong desire for drugs. The worst is when there is peer pressure enhancing their need to act like the cool kids on the street. Making them forget their priorities and cause health to deteriorate. Many of our youth are indulged in such horrific addiction causing brain damage by making them forget where and what they are doing. They throw away the most important years of their lives by being lost in a world of drugs to deal with emotional instability.
With the outbreak of the pandemic COVID-19, people continue to deal with so much uncertainty and expenses, loneliness, germaphobia, psychological issues, and social isolation. While it keeps parents occupied in providing their family the threat of survival and social isolation brings down children to other activities. Parents need to be mindful that they could fall prey to the societies downfall. The threat of such narcotics has always created turmoil for Pakistan due to the illicit trade. Children reach out to the dealers somehow, although the dealers are facing massive crackdowns but it not only the family especially Parents, Teachers or educational institutes but Where are the bills which have been passed in the cabinet for the prevention of flavored sheesha, Herbal or normal cigarette selling and purchasing to the minors, under the age of 18? The law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18. The law meets the “FCTC-ARTICLE.16 in that it prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors. According to Section-8, Prohibition of smoking in enclosed places and protection of non-smokers health ordinance 2002 has been passed but unfortunately, our Government has failed in implementing it whereas we can see small kids under 18 buying cigarettes and teenagers smoking vapes and cigarettes in Parks and enclosed places such as restaurants and fast foods. Some studies have shown Smoking and the use of other nicotine products could increase a person’s chances of using illegal street drugs.
Parents, teachers, educational institutes, and rehabilitation centers need to enhance their efforts to prevent the rising number of children falling prey to the societies worsening conditions. These psychological issues enhance and attract drug abuse creating a way of coping with stress. If our TV channels can promote the use of color drinks, dairy products or detergents, etc. Why can’t we produce such advertisements or TV Dramas that can spread awareness among Parents and Children in this context, for example, Maximum public service messages for the prevention of substance use? We as a Pakistani nation have many refined and big Drama producers and directors who made countless interesting dramas and short films which highlighted domestic and diverse social issues but they have failed to highlight the devastating social impacts of drug use upon society. Social media has the biggest effects on people’s minds and it can play an important and responsible role in running a strong campaign against Drug suppliers and users.
