What Parents Should Know (part V)

 

If you discover that your child is definitely taking drugs:

• Take a balance, calm view. Avoid over reaction or tearful recriminations.
• Obtain as much information as possible from your child about the extent, duration and circumstances of the drug use.
• Check if your child is ready to have help to handle the drug problem. If so, offer all support you can and arrange to see your GP or any suitable professional assistance.
• If your child is not ready to take help, insist on a discussion with an expert to clarify knowledge and attitudes.
• Take a clear, strong position that drug use is unacceptable and know the reasons why, draw your child’s attention to his or her behaviour, moods and deterioration, both physically and religiously.

What Parents Should Know (part IV)

 

IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD IS USING DRUGS….

DO:

• Obtain reliable information about drugs and know the facts.
• Involve yourself in your child’s life – get to know their friends, interests and movements: get talking.
• Become aware of your child’s problem areas. Be respectful of them and be  a good listener.
• Let alcohol and drugs be a ‘normal’ topic of discussion. Ask your child his feelings on the subject, be open to differences of opinion and suggest you both need to learn.
• Ask simple, direct questions such as “Are you smoking?”, “Are you drinking?” If the answer is negative, but you still suspect drug involvement, keep the lines of communication open by remaining in touch with your child’s  friends, activities and environment.
• Consult professional assistance if you need help handling the situation.

 

Don’t:

 

• Make blunt or angry accusations.
• Use moralistic judgement.
• Let things slide, hoping they will ‘go away’.
• Back down if your child resists attempt to get more involved in his/her life.

New Page

Visit our new page "A to Z of Drugs". On this page you will find our list of drugs and their slang names in alphabetical order. Click on the name of the drug you want information about. Explore this list to educate yourself.

What Parents Should Know (part III)

 

Drug Paraphernalia

 

As well as strange powders, tablets, capsules and other substances, there are various items of drug paraphernalia to look out for. These will depend on what drug is being used, and how it is taken -

• Incense sticks or room deodorizers to conceal the smell of dagga
• Plastic bank packets or unidentified packages wrapped in brown paper
• Unusual pipes or broken off bottlenecks
• Scorched tinfoil, tinfoil tubes and matchbox covers
• Syringes and needles
• Scorched spoons, ligatures and citric acid
• Small mirror, razor and straws
• Tiny spoons (sometimes ornate) and small containers
• Cigarette papers and home-made cigarettes
• Bloodstained cotton wool or other material.

What Parents Should Know (Part II)

 

Some common symptoms of drug taking are:

• Loss of appetite
• Being either unusually sleepy or
• Unable to sleep at night
• Bouts of talkative, excitable and over reactive behaviour
• Being unusually irritable, aggressive and even violent
• Telling lies, or acting secretively
• Losing interest in schoolwork and bunking classes
• Losing interest in hobbies and favourite sports
• Money or valuables disappearing from home
• Unusual spot, sores and marks on and around the mouth and nose
• Stains and chemical smells on clothing and about the body
• Changing friendship patterns
• Coming to the notice of Police for unruly behaviour

What Parents Should Know (Part I)

Parents often ask, “How can I detect if my child is using or experimenting with drugs?” and “What signs should I be looking for?” There is no simple answer.

In the current climate of growing public awareness about drug abuse, many parents have recognized the value of being forewarned in order to be forearmed should they have to deal with the problem in their own homes.

The fact is that there is no such place as a drug free environment. Although the majority of young people do not take drugs, the temptation is all around them. It cannot be ignored, and it is the parents’ responsibility to be aware and informed about the availability and dangers of different drugs.

It is important to remember that the majority of teenagers who are exposed to drugs either do not use them or experiment briefly then give them up. Many of the attitudes and forms of behaviours associated with drug taking could be confused with the difficult process of growing up.

However, some teenagers continue to experiment and begin to use drugs regularly. They may deny to themselves and others that they have become drug addicts , and the as the time goes on, greater and greater problems develop. At this point they will need help.

Teens, Depression and Marijuana (the facts)

Marijuana and Depression.
Marijuana and Suicidal Thoughts.
Marijuana and Schizophrenia.

Do we have your attention? As parents and caregivers, you probably never thought you’d see marijuana associated with these mental health problems … but it is. New research is giving us better insight into the serious consequences of teen marijuana use, especially how it impacts mental health.

Today’s teens are smoking a more potent form of marijuana and starting use at increasingly younger ages during crucial brain development years. ¹ There is plenty of evidence indicating the ways pot impedes, even changes, the mental health of adolescents. In fact, those changes in the brain are similar to those caused by cocaine, heroin and alcohol.² The overall impact that pot has on the brain can have long term consequences, and it’s up to you to influence your teen’s life when it comes to drugs.

Depression

Weekly or more frequent use of marijuana can double a teen’s risk of depression and anxiety. ³ Teens who smoke marijuana when feeling depressed are also more likely to become addicted to marijuana or other illicit drugs. Eight percent of depressed teens abused or became dependent on marijuana during the year they experienced depression compared with only three percent of non-depressed teens.⁴

Teen girls are especially at risk. More girls than boys felt depressed in the course of a year and substance abuse can compound the problem. Daily use of marijuana among girls is associated with a fivefold increase in the odds of developing depression and anxiety.⁵

Suicidal Thoughts

Marijuana can also be linked to suicidal thoughts. A study based on data from the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse found that teenagers 12 to 17 who smoke marijuana weekly are three times more likely to have thoughts of committing suicide.⁶ The same study linked increased anxiety and panic attacks to past year marijuana use.⁷

Schizophrenia

Several studies have documented marijuana’s link with symptoms of schizophrenia and report that cannabis is an independent risk factor for schizophrenia. Heavy users of marijuana at age 18 increased their risk of schizophrenia later in life by six times.⁸

Further reports have found marijuana use increased the risk of developing schizophrenia among people with no prior history of a disorder, and that early use of marijuana (age 15 vs. age 18) increased the risk even more.⁹ In addition, youth with a personal or family history of schizophrenia are at an even greater risk of marijuana-induced psychosis.¹⁰

(In the next part learn why teens feel depresses, and the solution)

---

1. El Sohly, M.A. University of Mississippi Potency Monitoring Project, 2004
2. Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know, Revised, NIDA, November 1998
3. Patton, GC et al. Cannabis use and mental health in young people: cohort study. British Medical Journal, 325:1195-1198, 2002.
4. 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, SAMHSA, 2007. Table 6.36B. http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k6nsduh/tabs/Sect6peTabs36to37.pdf
5. Patton, G.Cet al. Cannabis use and mental health in young people: cohort study. BMJ 325, 1195-1198, 2002.
6. Greenblatt, J. (1998), Adolescent self-reported behaviors and their association with marijuana use. National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 1994-1996 SAMHSA
7. Ibid.
8. Andreasson, S. et al. Cannabis and schizophrenia: A longitudinal study of Swedish conscripts. Lancet, 26: 1483-1486, 1987
9. Arseneault L., et al. Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence. British Journal of Psychiatry, 184: 110-117, 2004
10. van Os et al. (Dec. 2004) Prospective cohort study of cannabis use, predisposition for psychosis, and psychotic symptoms in young people, British Medical Journal, 330

Lecture by Moulana Ebrahim Bham

Topic of lecture is anti drug.

(lecture taken from www.edars.com, you can also download the lecture from this site free of cost.)

Islam and Drugs

(Article by a student of Darul Uloom, Holcombe, UK)

The young Muslims of today are facing an ever-increasing number of dilemmas. One of these is drugs. What does Islam have to say about it? How should Muslims regard drugs? To understand this we have to see what the Qur’aan and Ahaadith say regarding intoxicants i.e. narcotics.

Allah Ta’ala states in the Holy Qur’aan: -

O You who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones and (divination by) arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Avoid (such abominations) that you may prosper. (5:90)

Allah Ta’ala has described intoxicants amongst other things as being appalling, despicable and hateful acts of Satan and he has commanded us to abstain from them, Allah thereafter states in the next verse: -

Satan’s plan is to sow hatred and enmity amongst you with intoxicants and gambling, and to hamper you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not give up? (5:91)

This Aayah tells us how it is a detestable act of Satan, because intoxicants apart from sowing the seeds of enmity also stop you from the sole purpose of having been sent to the world, namely the remembrance of Allah.

Bear in mind that when the term intoxicant is used it also encompasses narcotics, because they to among other things result in the loss of self-control.

There are also many Ahaadith stated by the Holy Prophet PBUH in regards to intoxicants.

1) Jabir ra reported that the Holy Prophet saw said, "Whosoever drinks wine, whip him. If he repeats it for the fourth time, kill him." He (Jabir) says, A man was later brought to the Prophet saw who had drunk wine for the fourth time. He beat him, but did not kill him. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood)

The following Hadith clearly states that the Holy Prophet (saw) prohibited intoxicants.

2) Ibn Umar (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Every intoxicant is khamr (wine) and every intoxicant is haraam (unlawful). Whosoever drinks wine in this world and dies whilst consumed in it and does not repent will not drink it in the next world. (Muslim)

3) Jabir (ra) narrates that a man came from Yemen and asked the Prophet (saw) about a wine made from corn called ‘Mizr’, which they drank, in their land. The Prophet (saw) asked, "Is it intoxicating?" He replied, "Yes" The Prophet (SAW) said, "Every intoxicant is unlawful. Verily there is covenant upon Allah for one who drinks intoxicating drinks, that he will make him drink from ‘Teenatul Khabal,’ they asked, "O messenger of Allah, what is Teenatul Khabal?" He said, "The sweat of the inmates of hell or the pus (of impurities) of the inmates of hell." (Muslim)

4) Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) reports that the Prophet (saw) said, "Whosoever drinks wine, Allah will not accept his prayer for 40 days. If he seeks repentance Allah will forgive him. And if he repeats it Allah will not accept his prayer for 40 days. If he seeks repentance Allah will forgive him. And if he repeats it again Allah will not accept his prayer for 40 days. If he seeks repentance Allah will forgive him. If he repeats it for the fourth time Allah will not accept his prayer for 40 days. If he seeks repentance Allah will not accept it and he will be made to drink from the river of impurities (of the inmates of hell).

(Tirmidhi, Nasai, Ibn Majah and Daarami from Ibn Amr)

5) Jabir (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said; "Whatever intoxicates in a greater quantity is also unlawful in its smaller quantity." (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah)

6) Umme Salmah (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) prohibited every intoxicant and Mufattir (anything which excites and irritates the mind, body and heart). (Abu Dawood)

7) Abdullah Ibn Amr reports from the Prophet(saw), who said, "One who is disobedient to parents, gambles, harsh after charity and a is a habitual drunkard shall not enter paradise." (Daarami)

8) Abu Umaamah (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Verily Almighty Allah sent me as a mercy for all the worlds; and my Almighty and Glorious Lord ordered me to abolish drums, musical instruments, idols, the cross and the affairs of the days of Ignorance. My Almighty and Glorious Lord has sworn, "By my honour, no servant among my servants shall drink a mouthful of wine but I will make him drink like it from the scorching water (of hell); and none abstains from it out of fear of me but I will give him drink from the Holy fountain." (Ahmad)

9) Ibn Umar (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "There are three for whom Allah has forbidden paradise, a habitual drunkard, one disobedient to parents, and a careless husband who establishes impurity in his family." (Ahmad and Nasai)

10) Abu Musa Al-Asharee (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "There are three who will not enter paradise, a habitual drunkard, one who cuts of blood ties and one who believes in sorcery. (Ahmad)

11) Ibn Abbas (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said’ "If a habitual drunkard dies, he will meet Allah like the one who worships idols." (Ahmad, Ibn majah from Abu Hurrairah)

12) Abu Musa (ra) reported that he used to say, "I do not differentiate whether I drink wine or worship these idols besides Allah. (Nasai )

From the above Ahaadith, we can clearly see the Prophet (saw) and the Islamic view regarding intoxicants. In another Hadith the Prophet (saw) has described intoxicants as: -

1. The key to all evils.

2. The head of all errors and lapses.

3. The most terrible of major sins.

4. The mother of all atrocities.

5. The mother of all evils.

Why are drugs, intoxicants so abhorrent, awful, foul and vile in Islam?

Let us look at what the scholars have said regarding the effects of drugs from a worldly and religious point:

Ibn Hajar Al-Makki rahmatullahi alaihe narrates from some scholars that they are 120 worldly and religious detriments in consuming hashish (Cannabis).

Not 10, not 20, but 120 harmful things occur by the consumption of drugs.

The great Ibn-e-Seena says that large amounts of it dries up semen (The fluid that carries sperm thus rendering him incapable of passion in sexual intercourse).

Ibn-ul-Bitaar says: A group of people used it (drugs) and they became mentally deranged (insane).

Imaam Zarakhshee narrates in his book upon the prohibition of Hashish (Cocaine) from Zakariyah Razee, a famous doctor, that consuming hashish causes headaches, desiccates semen, brings about confusion, Neurosis, dries up all body fluids which could cause sudden death. Also it defects the mind, induces hectic fever, tuberculosis and oedema (dropsy).

Ibn-e-Taymiyyah (a renowned scholar) says: All the faults, blemishes, bad things in khamr (wine) are present in hashish and more. Because the majority of faults in khamr effect religion, but hashish effects to a great extent both religion and body.

Thereafter Sheikh Taymiyyah describes its faults: -

1) From a religious point of view it is as intoxicating as wine, it destroys the mind, causes forgetfulness, causes to reveal secrets, destroys shame, incubates dissimation, quells self respects, obliterates intelligence, prevents salaah and instigates towards Haraam, forbidden things.

2) From a physical aspect it deteriorates the mind, cuts off the means for offspring, brings about leprosy, sickness, feverish shivers, bad breath, loss of eyebrows and teeth, warming of blood, tuberculosis, damages intestines, destroys body organs, punctures the liver, burns the stomach and weakens eyesight amongst other things.The point all botanists have unanimously agreed upon is that hashish (cannabis) is an intoxicant, one of these botanists is Ibn-e-Baitaar.

Ibn-e-Baitaar states that it is intoxicant.

All the scholars including Abu Ishaaq Sheeraazee rahmatullahi alaihe and Allahma Nawawee have stressed that it is intoxicating. Allahma Zarakhshee further writes that we have not seen anyone differ in opinion regarding this.

Ibn-e-Taymiyyah says that the fact is that it is an intoxicant like Wine. And Allahma Keerafe says that according to my research hashish is the cause of corruption and evil.

Shariah and rational thinking both point towards the prohibition of drugs.

As Imaam Zarakshee has mentioned in his book: -

All verses (of the Qur’aan) and Ahaadith which testify that intoxicants are haraam also include hashish (i.e. drugs)

The verses and Ahaadith regarding this have already been stated.

Another verse, which proves drugs to be prohibited, is: They as you concerning khamr (intoxicant) and gambling. Say " In them there is great sin and some gain for mankind, but sin is greater then the gain.

This verse, apart from informing us of how grave a sin it is to consume intoxicants, is also imparting a principle: Everything in which the evil and harm outweighs the gain is not allowed. Therefore, if we consider drugs, they deflect the sensory perceptions as well as producing hallucinations and illusions. They cause body lassitude, neurosis, decline in health, moral insensitivity etc. etc. the list is endless. Furthermore, there are no benefits whatsoever of taking drugs for recreational purposes. The perception (from Shaitan) that Class B drugs such as cannabis (dope, draw) is all right is utterly wrong. This verse clearly shows that although it seems like they may contain a few benefits, overall its evil is far greater.

It is narrated that in Sahih Muslim: Every intoxicant is khamr (wine) and all Khamr is haraam.

Imam Ibn-e-Taymiyyah states: It should be enough harm for a person just to know that it prevents you from the remembrance of Allah and salaah.

In short, everything, which obstructs a person from Zikr-ullah and salaah, is haraam like wine.

Allah Ta’ala states in the Holy Qur’aan:

And Allah has forbidden on to you the ‘khabaith’ i.e. repulsive, wicked and evil things.

What could be more evil then the thing which impairs the faculties of thought and perception in the mind?

Dailamah Al-Humairee states: I asked the Holy Prophet (saw), ‘O Messenger of Allah ( saw ), Verily we are in a cold land, and we have to work hard therein, and we prepare wine from this wheat which gives as strength in our works and in the chill of our cities.’ He asked, ‘Does it intoxicate?’ ‘yes’ he replied. He said, ‘Give it up.’ I said, ‘Verily the people can not give it up.’ He said, ‘If they do not give it up, fight with them.’ (Abu Dawood)

This Hadith explains to us the principle cause of what is haraam. Chiefly, if it intoxicates it is haraam. The very same reason and cause is to be found in drugs.

Some might say that all drugs do not intoxicate, that drugs like heroin and hashish are only depressants which slackens and weakens the mind. The answer to this is in the following Hadith:

It has been narrated by Umme-Salmah, she states: The Prophet (saw) prohibited every intoxicant and muftir (every substance which slackens the mine).

Imam Zarakshee notes in his kitab: The scholars have stated that muftir is everything that causes slackness.

He then states: The Hadith (which has been mentioned above) particularly proves the prohibition of hashish because if it is not regarded as an intoxicant if definitely comes under the definition of ‘muftir’ (substance which causes drowsiness and the weakening of the mind etc.).

Moving on, the unanimity of the ummah on the prohibition of narcotics is also narrated from many scholars. Imaam Zarakshee states:

The consensus of the Ummah is narrated from several scholars in the prohibition of hashish; scholars include Qiraafi and ibn-e-Taymiyyah.

And if that was not enough, Ibn-e-Taymiyyah has further said: Whosoever regards it lawful has become kafir (Irreligious; ‘God forbid’).

The scholars of all four madhab’s unanimously agree that consuming anything intoxicating is haraam, certain plants have also been included as Imam Rafee’ clearly says that, ‘The scholars have included intoxicating plants etc. within the prohibition.’

So far the prohibition of drugs has been proven by means of the Qur’aan, Sunnah and Ijmah (consensus of the ulama). Its can further be proved by ‘Qiyaas’ (deduction by analogy) i.e. logical reasoning. When a person is intoxicated (or ‘stoned’ in street language) he does not know what he is doing. He could easily kill someone or fornicate etc. In the same manner, to feed his habit, he will most probably have to steal. These are, without a shadow of a doubt, unlawful. And there is a general rule that whatever leads to something haraam (unlawful) is in itself haraam. Thus drugs have been proven as haraam by all four sources of jurisprudence (Qur’aan, Sunnah, Ijmah and Qiyaas).

What is the legal punishment for consuming drugs?

Imam Mawardee has stressed that by consuming plants, which cause over-excitement (intoxication) ‘hadd’ (legal punishment i.e. 80 lashes) will become necessary.

Imam Qiraafi states that all the ulama of this period have agreed that its consumption is haraam. However, there is a difference of opinion as to what (punishment) becomes incumbent by drugs; either hadd because it intoxicates or tazir (reprimand) because it corrupts the mind.

In addition, in his book Az-Zakheera he states hadd or tazir will be imposed.

According to three prominent Imaams (Imam Shafee’, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad) consuming anything intoxicating however small the amount will bring the legal punishment of 80 lashes to the person.

However, in the Hanafi madhab in Fatawa ‘Al-Khulasa lil-Hanafiyyah’ it is stated:

If an intoxicating amount has been taken then according to Imam Muhammad hadd will be necessary and according to Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Abu Yusuf he will be reprimanded severely, but the hadd will not be imposed.

Tazir (reprimand) is such a punishment that holds no specific amount and it is for the Judge to decide.

Bear in mind that according to some scholars, in certain cases, tazir could prove to be more severe than the hadd itself e.g. When the person persistently commits the crime.

Conclusion:

Drugs are Haraam. It is necessary to abstain from them. They ruin people’s lives physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. If anyone is involved with drugs they should stop immediately and seek help.

May Allah help and protect us all. Ameen.

(content taken from www.inter-islam.org)

(Daril Uloom, Holcombe, UK)

Myth Busters

Mythbusters: Some Myths You've Heard Before, And Maybe Even Believed, Until Now

Many people say that pot is harmless because it's natural. But tobacco and even poison ivy grows naturally and they have some nasty effects. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the chemical that causes some smokers to develop "tolerance" to its effects, and crave more of the drug, leading to addiction.

Today's marijuana is twice as powerful on average as it was 20 years ago and its effects and risks vary. Also some weed is laced with acid, PCP or even includes chemicals like formaldehyde (yes, that's the stuff they put into corpses and the dissection frogs in biology class).

MYTH: There are no long-term consequences if you smoke weed.
Smoking up can lead to significant health, learning and mental health problems, which can ruin your future. It impairs judgment, which can lead to risky decisions when it comes to sex, reckless driving or doing things that would normally seem stupid to you, like illegal pranks or dares.
Weed can also affect your performance in school and in sports. You may even get kicked off your team completely or lose your driver's license or other privileges if you lose your parents' trust and respect.

MYTH: Magazine models are the ideal and all women should look like them.
Did you know that the average American(I am talking about American because this is where our teens take their greenwich time from, unfortunately!) woman is actually 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 142 pounds? These days you can hardly turn a few pages in a magazine without getting flooded with images of the "perfect" man or woman. But look around – there are all sorts of successful, attractive, interesting people in the world all with different shapes and sizes.
Hadeeth tells us that Allaah do not look at our faces or our forms, but He does look at our deeds and our hearts. Unfortunately all WE do care about is face and forms. Todays Teens have a low self-esteem, and hence are most susceptible to body image pressures and may suffer from eating disorders that are harmful to the body and mind. And without treatment, up to 20 percent of people with serious eating disorders die. With treatment, that number falls to 2 - 3 percent.

MYTH: Smoking pot is safer than smoking cigarettes.
Neither is good for you and here's why: Inhaling burning dried plant smoke into your lungs, whether it's tobacco or pot, is bad for you. Maybe you aren't too worried about cancer at this point in your life, but, just so you know, one marijuana joint can deliver four times as much cancer-causing tar as one tobacco cigarette. (NIDA)

MYTH: Everyone in high school smokes pot nowadays.
Actually not everyone's smoking pot. The simple fact is that most teenagers do not use marijuana. Among students surveyed in a yearly national survey, fewer than one in five high school seniors has smoked pot in the last month and the trend of teens using marijuana has been down in the past few years. (Monitoring the Future). You will have to believe that the world is a different place than what movies try to make us believe!

MYTH: You can't get addicted to marijuana.
Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction in some people. Each year, more teens enter treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined. (NSDUH)

MYTH: Niacin (vitamin B3) can help you pass marijuana drug tests.
Despite what you may have heard, no scientific evidence indicates that taking niacin can alter a urine drug test result for marijuana. And taking excessive amounts of niacin can also cause severe side effects such as hepatotoxicity (serious liver damage). (CDC - Morbidity & Mortality Report, April 20, 2007)

What Are Performance Enhancing Substances?

For some athletes, winning is everything -- and they'll do anything to be the strongest, the fastest, and the best. Instead of old-fashioned hard work and training, some athletes are turning to performance enhancing substances to boost athletic performance, ward off fatigue, and enhance their physical appearance. Performance enhancing substances are taken to increase muscle mass and strength, reduce weight, and hide the use of other illegal substances.

So what's the problem with taking performance enhancing substances? (besides putting your aakhirah in jeopardy?)
Negative side effects, that's what. Whether they're over-the-counter or illegal, performance enhancing substances can take their toll on a developing body, which is why it's especially dangerous for teen athletes to experiment with these substances.

What are steroids?
Anabolic androgenic steroids are a group of powerful compounds closely related to the male sex hormone testosterone. There are very few legitimate medical uses of anabolic androgenic steroids, including treatment of severe testosterone deficiency and certain kinds of anemia. Body builders, long-distance runners, cyclists and other athletes who may use these substances illegally claim that anabolic steroids give them a competitive advantage and/or improve their physical appearance.

What are the common names or slang terms for steroids?
The common names or slang terms for anabolic androgenic steroids include Juice, Roids, Gym Candy, and Pumpers.

What do steroids look like?
Anabolic androgenic steroids come in tablets or injectable liquid form.

How are steroids used?
Anabolic androgenic steroids can be taken orally or injected. Athletes and other abusers typically take steroids in periods of weeks or months, rather than continuously, in patterns called cycling. Users generally combine or “stack” several different types of steroids to maximize their effectiveness while attempting to minimize negative side effects.
What are their short and long-term effects on the body?
Although anabolic androgenic steroids may increase lean muscle mass, strength, and the ability to train longer and harder, the serious side effects of steroids are many and may not be reversible. The minor side effects of steroid use include acne, oily skin, excess hair growth, and deepening of the voice. The major side effects of steroid use include an increased risk of cancer, increased risk of heart and liver disease, jaundice, fluid retention, reduction in HDL-C (“good cholesterol”), high blood pressure, changes in blood coagulation, increased risk of atherosclerosis, swelling of the soft tissues of the extremities (edema), and obstructive sleep apnea. Side effects specific to men can include testicular atrophy or the shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, and the development of breasts. For women, side effects can include enlargement of the clitoris, changes in the body contour growth of facial hair, disruption of the menstrual cycle, deepened voice and infertility.An increase in androgenic (male) hormones may also lead to aggressive behavior. Research also indicates that steroid users often suffer from paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility.Adolescents who abuse steroids are at a significant risk of suffering irreversible side effects, including stunted growth, accelerated puberty changes and abnormal sexual development. Adolescent girls in particular may suffer from severe acne, excessive body and facial hair, deepened voice, permanent enlargement of the clitoris, disruption of the menstrual cycle, and permanent infertility.

Competition can be a great thing – but not when you value your winning record over your deen, brain and body. Winning isn’t everything, especially when you are risking your aakhirah, health and reputation to get ahead. Even if you’re using a legal performance enhancing substance, you are still putting your health and body at risk. Parents should know the facts about performance enhancing substances so that they can have an educated conversation with their teen about the dangers and consequences of using these substances.

KIMBERLEY PROGRAM AUDIO

You can listen to the kimberley lectures by Raabta and Crescent of hope here:


lecture by Muhammad Ashraf from Raabta

Powered by Podbean.com

MORE ANTI DRUG POSTERS BY KIDS

Inspired by children of Kimberley, few children of johannesburg have also attempted at anti drug posters, this time photoshop files:

PROGRAM IN KIMBERLEY

RAABTA and CRESCENT OF HOPE were invited by the people of Kimberley for a drug awareness program on 5th and 6th of june, 2009. Various programs were arranged by the kind hosts including lectures at MOGHAL PARK MASJID and MADRASAH. The lectures given by Mr. Rafiq Mayet of crescent of hope, and Mr Ashraf Muhammad of Raabta would soon be made availabe on this blog INSHALLAAH.

The teachers of all the various madaaris had also arranged a poster compitition amongst their students about drug awarness. Hundreds of children participated in the contest and the result was awe inspiring. Following are just a few examples from hundreds of posters thoughtfully designed by the youngsters of Kimberley.

If you are interested in arranging lecture programs about drug awarness in your area, pls contact:

Ashraf Muhammad

073 788 8768

2CB and 2-CT-7

These two drugs are hallucinogens. This means that they’re substances which induce a state in which you see objects and reality in a distorted way (and this may include seeing hallucinations). 2C-B and 2C-T-7 have effects somewhere between ecstasy and LSD and so can also act as stimulants and cause changes in your emotions.

Slang:
Street names for drugs can vary around the country. 2CT-7 is also known as T-7, 7-up, seventh-heaven and Tripstacy. Nexus; Bees; Venus; Bromo Mescaline

The effects
A little bit of 2C-B feels like ecstasy. It's an energetic experience. 2CT-7 is similar.
Users feel really aware of colours, sounds and smells.
The body feels hypersensitive and lots of people get aroused.
The effects can usually last from two to four hours.

Chances of getting hooked
They’re both relatively new drugs to the market so currently there’s very little information. However, they are not the type of drugs on which people are likely to become physically dependent.

Appearance and use
They're sold as white powder or tiny 5mg pills. Most people take several at a time and effects can last from 4-8 hours. The more you take, the more intense and uncontrollable the experience.
Normally swallowed, they are also snorted. Other routes, such as by smoking, appear to be less common.

The risks
*They both may make you hallucinate like LSD.
*Users may become depressed.
*Drugs like these can bring on headaches, nausea, vomiting, panic attacks and, particularly at high doses, more serious confused, agitated or even delirious states.
*Evidence from other drugs like ecstasy and LSD suggest that regular use can leave people tired, disorientated and anxious.
*It’s not yet known if there’s any long term damage.

ACID

See LSD

AEROSOLS

See GASES, GLUES and AEROSOLS

ALCOHOL

Alcohol is seen by many as a more socially acceptable drug, but that’s not to say it’s any less powerful than other drugs. Technically speaking, it's a nervous system depressant, which means it slows down your body's responses in all kinds of ways. Just enough can make you feel great, too much and you’ll have a hangover the next day.

Slang:

booze, bevy

THE EFFECTS

Alcohol will often exaggerate whatever mood you're in when you start drinking.
It takes your body an hour to process one unit of alcohol.

Chances of getting hooked
For some people drinking gradually gets out of control and results either in regular binge-drinking, heavy harmful drinking or alcoholism (alcohol dependence).

Appearance and use
Alcohol comes in a whole range of different drinks. Spirits usually contain a higher level of alcohol to wine or lager. While ‘alcopops’ and ready-to-drink ‘mixers’ may not seem it, they usually contain more alcohol by volume than beer or cider.

The risks
*One drink too many can leave you feeling out of control – like slurring your words, losing your balance and vomiting.
*Psychological and physical dependence on alcohol can creep up on you. Tolerance gradually increases the more you drink excessively on a regular basis, so you may find you'll need more alcohol to reach the same state. In other words, you may seem to be getting better at holding your drink when that’s really a sign of a developing problem.
*Alcohol can make you mouthy, argumentative and aggressive. There’s no way of knowing beforehand if you’re going to turn into a nasty drunk.
*Serious overindulgence can lead to alcohol poisoning which could put you in a coma or even kill you.
*Alcohol is the root cause generally for contributing to all kinds of problems , from violent crime to domestic violence and to car-related deaths.
*Long-term excessive use of alcohol causes illnesses such as liver damage, stomach cancer and heart disease.
*Fetal damage in pregnant women at high dose or frequency

AMANITA MUSCARIA

See MAGIC MUSHROOMS

AMPHITAMINE

See SPEED