We were in the sitting room one night watching television when we heard loud laughter from Chima’s room. We ran to check, and there was my brother seated on the floor pointing at the window and laughing hysterically. My mum broke down in tears, ‘heeeeeiiii my enemies have done it! My only son has gone mad. What have I done to deserve this? Haaaaa! I’m finished. My only son!’. At the word “mad”, I remembered Aunt Esther’s words, “let madness fall on you”.
I looked at my brother and felt goose bumps on my skin. Chima had indeed gone mad. I was stupefied. Was Aunt Esther a witch? How can Chima be mad? These and many other questions filled my heart as I watched my mum wail. My dad walked in the room while I followed him and became aware of the smoky smell. We didn’t have to search for the source; right in front of my brother were rolls of tobacco wrapped in papers. My dad opened his mouth in shock. Chima was a smoker. My dad looked like he had been punched in the chest. We couldn’t fathom when Chima had begun to smoke.
The next day, I contacted his friend in secondary school and after much coaxing; I discovered that my brother had been doing drugs since secondary school. SS1 to be precise. He had this group of friends who found ways of making themselves ‘high’. Tobacco was not the only substance they used. My brother has been using heroin, tobacco, and marijuana for years. The discovery shook me. At least, it was not Aunt Esther’s curse.
Drug abuse is one of the commonest vices among youths. There are so many reasons why youths abuse drugs. It could be to be among the ‘in group’; to fit in or feel cool, to prove maturity, to get over a bad experience or as relief from stress. Whatever the reason is, the side effects, horrible as they are, are usually not considered.
Side effects of drug abuse are endless, but can be grouped under: cardiovascular effects, respiratory effects, gastrointestinal effects, kidney damage, liver damage, neurological effects, hormonal effects, prenatal effects, mental health effects, cancer, HIV/hepatitis (via sharing of needles for drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, etc) and of course, death. Addiction to drugs is a disaster and such persons need urgent treatment. The most commonly abused drugs are: cocaine, crack cocaine, mescaline, tyenol, codeine, tobacco, tramadol and cannabis (aka marijuana or weed).
Your future is so bright. Don’t sacrifice it on the altar of drug abuse.
😘😘😘😘💞
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