The spread of drugs is a common thing in society. The word "drugs" is a popular word among people. Drugs use can be seen in both modern and historical societies. Drugs were used in both Western and Ayurveda medicine, and they are still used legally today.
But the problem is that the drug has been socialised without any legal status in today’s society. Drugs have become a virus in society. Most young people are addicted to these drugs without knowing the consequences of this.
Youth
Ice is the most widely used drug among the youth of Sri Lanka. Ice is methamphetamine, a stimulant drug produced by humans in the laboratory. It speeds up the messages travelling between the brain and the body. It’s stronger and more addictive. This is also known as meth or speed. In addition, the drug is known by various names, such as Crystal Meth, Crystals, Glasses, Shards, and Crank.
Ice usually comes in the form of small, chunky clear crystals that look like ice. It can also come as a white or brownish crystal-like powder with a strong smell and a bitter taste.
Methamphetamine is not a new thing, although it has become more popular and stronger in recent years as the technique for making it has developed.
Amphetamines were first found in Germany in 1887 and developed in Japan in 1919 as an easy, water-soluble injection. Methamphetamine was widely used during World War II to keep troops awake. This was used by both sides. High doses were given to Japanese Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the end of the war, methamphetamine abuse by injection reached epidemic proportions when supplies stored for military use became available to the Japanese public.
Depression
In the 1950s, methamphetamine was prescribed as a diet aid and to fight depression. It is sometimes prescribed by a doctor for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. It was used as a nonmedical stimulant by college students, drivers, and athletes.
Today, the drug is sold in powder or crystalline form. It can be used as a smoker. It is generally used, smoked, and injected into the body. If not, it can be snorted or swallowed. In Sri Lanka, it is most often used in the form of smoke, using a piece of glass used for light bulbs.
People can gain feelings of happiness and confidence after using this drug, and it increases the emotions of attention and energy. However, there are a large number of physical and mental effects, and this is known as an extremely addictive drug.
That is, when the drug is not used in an addictive situation, there are physical and mental complications that can result from getting rid of the drug. There, the person feels very tired and experiences sensations such as hunger, which cause discomfort in his or her body. That is, the body feels the need for the drug again and, after using it, the pain in the body goes away as usual.
Damage
The use of this drug can cause a number of physical and psychological effects. That is, high blood pressure can cause permanent damage to the blood vessels of the heart and the brain, leading to heart disease and even death.
By using this drug, the following conditions can also occur:
Damage to the liver, kidneys, and lungs; respiratory problems, malnutrition, weight loss, severe tooth decay, indifference and intense fatigue, depression, damage to the brain similar to Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, and epilepsy, strong psychological dependence, psychosis, destruction of tissues in the nose if sniffed, disturbed sleep patterns, loss of appetite, panic and psychosis bizarre, erratic and sometimes violent behaviour can be seen as the short-term effects of using this crystal meth.
There is a high risk of developing various mental health problems, including mental illness, as well as mood swings and violent behaviours. Feelings of anxiety and other mental disorders can lead to impaired control of the product that activates the endocrine system in the brain. This condition is called meth psychosis.
Effect
This drug only makes you feel aroused for a few minutes. Then its normal effect lasts for several hours. Therefore, in order to keep the drug level in the blood, the user has to take the drug continuously.
This is where the addiction begins. Most of the drivers and students use meth since they can stay awake for days.
Most people use meth for weight loss since they can lose weight. The girls use this since it can be used as a sexual stimulant.
When we inquired about the ice drug from Chief Inspector (CI) Ruwan Kumara, who is a Narcotic senior investigator, we got a clear understanding of the current situation of ice drugs.
Q: What is ice?
A- Ice is a synthetic drug. A synthetic drug means it is made by using man-made chemicals rather than natural ingredients. We can classify drugs into three main categories.
They are natural drugs, semi synthetic drugs and synthetic drugs. Natural drugs are made from compounds found in nature. The most prevalent natural drug sources are plants. Morphine, dioxin and aspirin can be mentioned as some examples of medicine that comes from plants.
Semi-synthetic drugs are neither completely natural nor completely synthetic. They are hybrids. It is generally made by using both chemicals and natural ingredients.
Synthetic means it is completely made from chemicals and it has a huge effect on the people who are using these types of drugs. This is used in the ink, garment and many more industries.
The ice drug can be easily made by using two ingredients. But by using this drug for a long period and from the first day of use, effects can be felt on the body and the organs in our body are broken and distorted. Anyone who uses meth can live for about five years.
Q: How is the current situation of ice drugs in Sri Lanka?
A- At present, we can see that most people are using ice drugs, and it has spread widely in Sri Lanka. Earlier, unemployed people and not well-educated people were the main victims of drugs. But today we can see well-educated people, those who are in top jobs, the youth and girls drowning in this condition.
Q: Period of meth use in Sri Lanka
A- We can’t mention it exactly because we haven’t done any research regarding that. But since about 2000, it has been used in Sri Lanka and is still in use. But in 2007 and 2008, it was growing rapidly. This is why the conventions against illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances Act No. 1 of 2008 were introduced.
In the early days, heroin was brought to Sri Lanka by fishermen as well as tourists. But later, this rapidly spread over the country. People were highly addicted to heroin. So the Poisons, Opium, and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 1984 was introduced. This Act was really strict.
According to section 54 A, any person who manufactures any of the following dangerous drugs, namely heroin, cocaine, morphine, or opium, shall be guilty of an offence against this ordinance and shall, on conviction by the High Court without a jury, be liable to a sentence of death or life imprisonment.
There are more sentences in this section, and the act was really strict. But in the No. 1 of 2008 act, the rules are not as strict as the Act No. 13 of 1984.
Q: Reason for the rapid spread of meth
A- Most of the heroin is transported by fishing boats. The price of the heroin has increased, and it now costs around Rs 65,000 for a gram. People are more accustomed to using meth than heroin because the ice drug is less expensive than heroin and the effect obtained from using ice is greater than that obtained from heroin. Currently, a heavy spread of meth can be seen in the country.
Even with meth, anyone has the ability to get rid of addiction. In general, the elimination of any drug can lead to common complications such as a strong sense of urgency, aggression, physical pain, fatigue, and depression. But the intensity of meth clearance can vary, depending on a number of different personalities.
Among them, how long has ice been used? How much has been used? What is the addictive nature of the person concerned? These are crucial. But if someone has been using meth for a long time, it is harder to get rid of it.
Getting rid of meth is a serious process. Therefore, it is advisable to do it on the advice and supervision of an experienced specialist. In addition, it is important to practise meditation, which keeps mental health and the mind distracted during the period of relaxation, and to stay away from stimulants that may re-use meth. Furthermore, it is extremely beneficial to receive treatment under medical supervision in order to recover from meth addiction.
The youth are the most important part of the country. They are the ones who build the country. The strength of the young needs to contribute to the economic strength of the nation.
Using drugs can cause many issues, such as social, economic, and ethical. So each has the responsibility of saving the country by avoiding drugs. The laws for drugs should be tightened more and they should be strict.