Intoxicants: Harms and impacts

The Muslims of today, especially the youth, are facing many problems
and temptations that were not there before. The youth are easily
distracted by activities such as addiction to TV, addiction to video
games, gambling, disco, parties, and addiction to drugs. This article
will explore the harmful effects of drugs on our youth, the family,
the society and most important , on our belief especially that drugs
(or any intoxicant) are forbidden in Islam.
Types of intoxicants:
1. An intoxicant is any substance (liquid, solid orgas) that is
voluntarily taken into the body by swallowing, injection, inhaling or
ingesting, which produces an effecton the brain resulting in a change
of the mood of the individual.
2. Examples of intoxicants are alcohol, wine, beer, spirits, home
made alcoholic brews, all forms of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, etc.
3. All intoxicants are totally forbidden (Haraam), irrespective of
the quantity that is used; even one drop of alcohol is forbidden; it
is not the quantity that is important - the substanceitself is
forbidden.
4. Anyone who associates in any way, with any aspect of the
intoxicants (whether alcohol or drugs), whether using it, selling it,
producing it, or delivering it, is a partner with the devil, since all
kinds of intoxicants are the handiwork of the devil.
Getting 'hooked'
Young people are very gullible and vulnerable tothe influences of
society, their friends, TV, adults, and those that appear to be
fashionable. Hence, a youth may find that all his friends have
experienced the use of drugs, and now he is feeling left out because
everyone else appears to be having a good time, and all his friends
tease him that he is "chicken". This unsuspecting youth then decides
to 'experiment' only once, 'just to try it out."
Furthermore, if he does not have money to buy the drugs, someone may
even offer it to him for free. What he does not realize, is that his
first weakness, to please his friends, is the biggest mistake that he
can ever make. The strategy of thedrug dealers is to get as many
customers as possible.
Some drug dealers are soruthless that they give out free sweets
containing drugs to school children. The trick that they use is to
give free drugs to unsuspecting people. Once a person becomes addicted
(hooked) he becomes a customer for life.
The addicted person will then beg, borrow, steal, prostitute
themselves, just to make sure that they have money to buy drugs for
their next fix. It is a vicious cycle of crime,prostitution, family
breakdown, social breakdown, community breakdown. It is for this
reason that intoxicant is known as the source of all evils, Islamicaly
termed as the 'mother ofall evils'.
Intoxicants with respect to their impact
There are many types of drugs available on the market. The general
effect of all drugs is basically very similar, though theydiffer in
their speed of action as well as the severity of the harm on the body.
All drugs directly affect the brain, since this is the only way of
causing mood changes. Some examples of drugs are as follows:
1. Heroin, (upper drug): highly addictive opiate; gives very high
rush, followed by many hours of fogginess; the addict lives day to day
forthe next fix.
2. Marijuana, (downer drug): affects the parts ofthe brain that
deals with emotions and memory.
3. Alcohol, (downer drug): impairs judgements, memory lapses, blackouts.
4. Cocaine, (upper drug): whether in powder form or crack, it is
a highly addictive stimulant; addict loses interest in school, family,
work, etc.
5. Vapor Inhalants (downer drug): (glue, petrol, hair spray,
paint thinners, etc.) destroy theprotective layers around the brain
cells.
6. Ecstasy (upper drug): powerful amphetamine that causesproblems
in concentration and causesthe person to find difficulty in realizing
the difference between fantasy and reality.
7. LSD (upper drug): gives a distorted view of time and space;
causes paranoia, confusion, panic attacks.
8. Steroids (upper drug): used by 'body builders" to gain
muscles;causes mood changes and permanently impairs learning and
memory.
Harmful effects of drugs
· Physical effects: The brain is the most delicate and powerful
computer- it is an amazing organ, with virtually limitless potential-
it is a Gift from Allaah; it has to be protected and cherished and its
full potential mustbe utilized. The moment any person takes a drug
into the body (either by nose, mouth or vein) the drug enters the
blood stream and goes directly to the brain, crosses the blood-brain
barrier (BBB)and occupies various receptor sites in the brain. This
leads to alteration in the chemicaland electrical neuronal functioning
of the brain which also leads to eventual organic damageto this
delicate, yet powerful organ.
These changes in the brain is what causes the state of 'addiction'-
eventually, the body automatically starts craving for the damagingdrug
leading to a vicious cycle of abuse and further damage.
However, other body organs that are damagedinclude the following:
damaged nasal septum; collapsed & clotted veins; kidney, liver & lung
failure to various degrees; damage to the brain; infected needles
causes Hepatitis Infectionand HIV/AIDS.
· Social effects: The person indulged in the usage of
intoxicants displays anti-social behavior such as: staying away from
home; stealing; crime; job loss; withdrawal from community;
embarrassing behavior inpublic; deterioration in relationship with
parentsor wife or children. The most harmful effect of drugs is on the
brain.
Baby addicts
Pregnant mothers sometimes take drugs. These drugs enter the brain of
their unborn baby, so that the baby becomes addicted even before
birth. When these babies are born, they show withdrawal symptoms and
will develop with various learning disabilities. This is a crime
against the innocent unborn child.
Symptoms of drug abuse
Sudden mood changes; unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite; no
interest in school, work, life or even in themselves; no longer caring
about personal hygiene, clothing and dressing; always looking
disheveled; frequent prescription medication; depression and mood
swings.
Solving the problem
If there is someone in your familyor close friend, who you suspect has
a problem with drugs, then itis our duty to assist them in any way
possible. Some suggestions in this regard are:
1. Communicate. Don't pretend that the problemwill go away or that
it cannot be happening in your own family. Parents and families must
learn the art of healthy, open communication and discuss issues in an
open, frank and friendly atmosphere.
2. Show sympathy. Evenif it is to a stranger. The addicted person
is a diseased person; so, he/she needs our help. There may have been a
family problem that led the person to drugs. Or the person may have
thought that it will be 'fun' just to try it out. No one deliberately
says: "I want to be a drug addict." What they don't realize is, that
after the first taste of the drug, 'you are hooked.' Insteadof
condemning them, offer counseling, moral support, send to drug
rehabilitation and offer words of encouragement.
3. Religious figures must speak out against this evil and discuss
the devastating effects of drugs on the individual, his family as well
as the society.
4. Muslim communities must provide alternative forms of recreation
for their youth; these could be community centers, sports, youth
camps, etc, where the youth can socialize in an Islamic environment
and are then not tempted to experiment out of boredom.
5. The addicted youth should be encouraged to turn to Islam. There
have been many examples of heavily addicted Muslim youth, who have
been rehabilitated by turning to Islam. Today, they are totally
devoted to Islam. Allaah accepts sincere repentance when one intends
to give up the way of the devil and rather follow the StraightPath.
6. Mothers have a very important role to play in the upbringing of
their children. The whole community must work actively to rid society
of drugs. Only a mother knows the pain and sorrow of seeing her
beloved child being a slave to the evils of drugs. Drugs destroy the
dreams of every mother.
We have a responsibility to look after our youth and protect themfrom
the dangers of society. Our youth are our future.