YOUTH AND DRUGS

Assalamu’alaikum warrahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Your excellencies the committees,

The honorable adjudicators, and

Dear audiences,

All praises be to Allah SWT, the lord of the world who created everything in this universe. Peace and salutation be upon our prophet Muhammad SAW, who brought us to the new great civilization.

In this opporunity I’d like to deliver a speech, entitled :

Youth and Drugs

Dear Audience

Drug addiction is a complex brain disease. It is characterized by compulsive, at times uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. Drug seeking becomes compulsive, in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and, thus, on behavior. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. The Definition confirm us how serious the consequences of using Drugs.

People usually take drugs to have fun or escape the pressures of life. Drug users among students are particularly worrying. It was reported that a number of traffickers operate around schools by cheating, forcing or giving free illicit drugs to students.

Thousands of youth have wasted their lives because of addicted to drugs in our country. The mostly victims are the youth from a broken-home family, of ignorance, of curiosity or particularly of the illegal drugs mafia. It is estimated that around 4 million people in Indonesia is drug users. In the capital city of Jakarta, it is estimated that three out of ten young people are users. A study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) office in Indonesia showed that around four per cent of illicit drug users in the country are children under 17 years old.

Dear Audience

Ironically, some teenagers start being involved in producing and trafficking drugs between the ages of 13 and 15. Chairman of the National Narcotics Coordinating Board said that the country’s illicit drug users include around 7,000 junior high school students, over 10,000 senior high school students and about 800 elementary school students.

Once the students are addicted, they then go to the traffickers to buy the illicit drugs. If they do not have money, they steal it from their family members or others. Narkoba is the Indonesian term for narcotics, psychotropic and addictive substances. Psychotropic substances popularly called Ecstasy and Shabu-shabu are considered favorites among the middle and upper class users. However, for an increasing number of young people, the drug of choice is low-grade heroin, known

Drug abuse has also contributed to the increase of HIV/AIDS patients, through the usage of unsterile injections. According to a report based on an illicit drug and injection safety study of 20 Asian countries conducted by the Center for Harm Reduction in Australia’s Burnet Institute, drug injecting is spreading to all the countries [of Asia] and its popularity is increasing. Our Country, Indonesia have up to 1 million drug injectors, and 19% of them were infected HIV/AIDS. How Dangerous the drugs abuse for us.

Dear Audience

The facts above showed us how familiar narkoba issues In our young generation. It’s time for us to stop this. Then, what can we do as the young generation? Prevention is better than cure.

1.       Don’t Be Afraid to Say No:  Sometimes, our fear of negative reaction from our friends, or others we don’t even know, keeps us from doing what we know is right. Don’t let someone else make your decisions for you.  If someone is pressuring you to do something that's not right for you, you have the right to say no, the right not to give a reason why, and the right to just walk away.

2.        Make connections with your parents or other adults:  As you grow up, having people you can rely on, people you can talk to about life, life’s challenges and your decisions about alcohol and drugs is very important.  The opportunity to benefit from someone else’s life experiences can help put things in perspective and can be invaluable.

3.         Enjoy life and do your positive hobbies:  Learn how to enjoy life and the people in your life, without adding alcohol or drugs.  Alcohol and drugs can change who you are, limit your potential and complicate your life.  Too often, “I’m bored” is just an excuse.  Get out and get active in school and community activities such as music, sports, arts or a part-time job.  Giving back as a volunteer is a great way to gain perspective on life.

4.       Follow the religion and family rules :  As you grow up and want to assume more control over your life, having faith to your religion and the trust and respect of your parents is very important. 

5.       Self controlling :  take responsibility for your life, your health and your safety.  Speak up about what alcohol and drugs are doing to your friends, your community and encourage others to do the same.

That’s all my speech, thank you for attention.

Wassalamu’alaikum warrahamatullahi wa barakatuh.