Crystal Meth in Kuwait - Case Study Example

Crystal Meth in Kuwait Crystal meth is one of the drug menaces facing the world today. Users cite many reasons for using the drug though most admits that the depression encourages drug use in one way or another. The focus of this essay is to bring critically examine reasons behind prevalent of crystal meth use among teens and young adults with reference to Kuwait. Kuwait offers a good example case study as a country where drug smuggling and trafficking is prevalent. Therefore, the essay refers to people who bear responsibility for the widespread of crystal meth use in Kuwait from the public, government, and families in general. Introduction Crystal Meth is one of the Schedule II stimulants implying that the drug has high potential for addiction and abuse (Fisher, Grace, and Lucy 53). Methamphetamine is the chemical responsible for addiction among users. The high potential of addiction is because crystal meth increases production and release of dopamine as the neurotransmitter that stimulates the brain cells (Panduranga, Seif, and Jawad 398). The chemical thus produces ham and long-lasting effects on the humans central nervous system. In most countries, the drug is only available in legal form from licensed prescribers, and they do not refill the prescriptions. However, illegal laboratories have been able to crop up and now manufacture the drugs in the street thereby giving people access to the dangerous chemical (Maxwell and Mary-Lynn 1168). The illegal manufacturers have been able to operate in the street despite the dangers that the drug imposes on the users. Crystal meth use leads to quick addition since more continued requires more and frequent doses. Chronic abuse alters the function of the brain and may also damage the neuron cells. Despite the adverse effects of the drug, there is a raging debate over who should be responsible for the increased use and accessibility of crystal meth. There are many stakeholders when it comes to drug abuse and addiction (Sharma et al. 102). Parents, for instance, are responsible for making their teens aware of the adverse effects of drug use. On the other hand, the public in general also has a part to play since the society knows the drug dealers, but does not want to bring them to book. Nonetheless, the government has to fight the war on drugs and must put incentives for holding drug dealers responsible. In Kuwait for instance, there has been a high prevalence in the use and addiction to crystal meth (Panduranga, Seif, and Jawad 399). What remains unclear in such situations is who should be responsible for the prevalent use. The crystal meth epidemic in Kuwait is due to many factors including prolific smuggling, its low price, and the immediate effect of the drug. Nonetheless, most of the analysts in Kuwait are blaming the drug for the increasing cases of violence in the society. Therefore, the growing use of Crystal meth in Kuwait calls for a deeper investigation of who should be responsible for its spread. Who should be responsible Crystal meth prevalent in Kuwait? One of the areas through which drugs get into Kuwait is container transportation where drug dealers smuggle the illegal substances into the country (Arab Times 1). The relevant authorities in Kuwait have also confirmed that container transportation is increasing prevalence of drugs since it is easier to conceal the drugs through such transit methods. Therefore, drug dealers only need to collude with others so that they can pick the drug safely from the port. In this case, the container transportation sector bears responsibility for the prevalent drug use in the country. The sector should have enough security check to screen all individuals passing through the ports. On the other hand, authorities of the container transportation sector do not have modest methods or technologies of screening cargo (Arab Times 1). The business of smuggling drug through container transportation is thriving because relevant authorities have no incentives and approaches to comprehensive screening of their cargo. Nonetheless, the issue of drug smuggling through container transportation is not new since the world has had a long history of such cases especially in Middle East, Latin America and Africa (Panduranga, Seif, and Jawad 403). Therefore, the responsibility of drug use and abuse starts from the possible loopholes that allow such dangerous chemicals like Crystal meth to find their way to Kuwait. Families of the drug users are also to blame for the increasing cases of crystal meth-related crimes like violence (Maxwell and Mary-Lynn Brecht 1169). In most cases, families are afraid to speak about issues of crystal meth addiction that affect their members. However, families are ignoring the fact that use of crystal meth also poses them to eminent danger. The addicts can become violent and resort to beating their families or indulge on other anti-social behaviours like rape (Fisher, Grace, and Lucy 54). By hiding the users and addicts, families are choosing to live with the problems amongst them and this has an adverse effect on the fight against drug abuse and addiction. A good family should be able to report such cases and encourage the victims to attend rehabilitation programs. On the contrary, there is a worrying trend of families not being open about the crystal meth issue. It is also their responsibility to create awareness among teens that are highly vulnerable to drug abuse and other anti-social behaviors. Families are responsible since they are the basis of origin of all individuals. The only way of reducing the prevalence of drug abuse and addiction is through good parenting (Maxwell and Mary-Lynn Brecht 1170). There is always the high likeness that a child or a teen will get access drugs both illegally and legally. In this case, the parent can influence a child’s or a teen’s decision on whether to take such drugs or not. On the other hand, the decisions and behaviors become part of a child and may follow him or her to adulthood. In fact, drug abuse mostly affects individuals in their late teens or early twenties. The implication is that the way a family brings up a child influences his or her behaviors and may be the reason as to why they consider abusing drugs. Nonetheless, one of the reasons as to why people abuse drugs is because they want to hide from family problems (Sharma et al. 103). Therefore, families have everything to do with prevalent crystal meth addiction in Kuwait. A family should be supportive and must always offer good advice and information about drug abuse and addiction. Nonetheless, the public is also to blame for the increased use of crystal meth in Kuwait (Arab Times 1). The modern society accepts certain behaviors like alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. The same people are the role models, and youths look upon them for encouragement and support. However, it becomes utterly hypocritical that a person smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol offers some advice to people like crystal meth users. The implication is that changing social behaviors in the community are the basis for problems like drug abuse (Sharma et al. 99). For the teens to stop using drugs like crystal meth, the public should a good role model for them. Therefore, the changing social behaviors make people perceive that drugs are cool ways of life. If the society does not change, then the crystal meth problem is here to stay in Kuwait. The public is also responsible for the spread of crystal meth owing to the health and safety issues that come with the manufacturing of the drug. Production of crystal meth leads to severe physical injuries from fires, explosions, toxic fumes, and burns (Panduranga, Seif, and Jawad 405). Nonetheless, the by-products are hazardous to the environment; endanger lives of the residents and causes waste management problems. Despite the observable adverse effects, the public has least reported the manufacturers to the relevant authorities. However, their silence on the issue implies that the manufacturers can continue with their productions posting more harm to the society (Sharma et al. 101). The government of Kuwait has had trouble finding the clandestine labs that are manufacturing the drug. The government also bears the responsibility of keeping drugs out of the reach of the drug users. The Kuwait government thus lacks sound regulatory framework for the use and distribution of harmful substances like crystal meth. Reports and analysis shows that Kuwait government has been inconsistent with its surveys on the total number of youths hooked to crystal meth (Arab Times 1). For instance, the interior ministry gives different figures from the education sector. Lack of clear information on such issues may affect the government’s planning and approach towards ending the drug menace in Kuwait. The government is also bureaucratic when it comes to implementing laws against drugs (Panduranga, Seif and Jawad 404). For instance, the capital punishment, the death penalty, is supposed to serve as a good example for people engaging in drugs. Though possession and use of crystal meth is punishable by death under Kuwait laws, the long time it takes to administer justice is hindering efforts aimed at fighting the drug. Conclusion In summary, there are many reasons behind the high prevalent of drug abuse and addiction in the contemporary world. One of the substances that people abuse the most is crystal meth in spite of the adverse effects it has on the human brain. In Kuwait for instance, the drug has been responsible for many deaths despite the measures by the government to curb drug abuse and addiction. However, many people or stakeholders are to blame for the drugs prevalence. The public should provide the government with information on drug dealers and the difficult to identify manufacturer labs. Nonetheless, families of the victims have the obligation to help in rehabilitation and awareness creation. On the other hand, the government has a part to play as the body responsible for enactment of laws and legislation on drug abuse and addiction. Works cited Arab Times. “Kuwait Scrambles to curb spread of Crystal Meth”. Arab Times Kuwait English Daily, 8th. 2014. Web. 8th December. 2014. Fisher, Dennis G., Grace L. Reynolds, and Lucy E. Napper. "Use of crystal meth, Viagra and sexual behaviour." Current opinion in infectious diseases 23.1 (2010): 53-60. Maxwell, Jane Carlisle, and Mary-Lynn Brecht. "Methamphetamine: here we go again?." Addictive behaviors 36.12 (2011): 1168-1173. Panduranga, Prashanth, Seif Al-Abri, and Jawad Al-Lawati. "Intravenous drug abuse and tricuspid valve endocarditis: Growing trends in the Middle East Gulf region." World journal of cardiology 5.11 (2013): 397-409. Sharma, Mukesh, et al. "Drug Abuse: A Curse for Human Society." Asian Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Science 4.2 (2014): 99-109. Read More