Word study.   comprehension. Follow-up. Pre-reading task

PRE-READING TASK

1. Answer the questions.

1. Why do people take drugs?
2. What is addiction?
3. Is it possible to come off drugs?

“Jane, who is 13, and my best friend’s sister invited us to their apartment to spend an evening. Everyone started to smoke marihuana. At first I refused it, but after several tries I eventually got used”. That was how Mike explained his introduction to the world of drugs.

Warren, a Canadian, is from a conservative family professionally involved in classical music. He played in orchestra, and one of the musicians smoke marihuana regularly. He persistently offered it to Warren during a period of months. Eventually Warren began using it regularly.

All these individuals went on to use drugs such as LSD, opium, and stimulants. Now as former drug users they agree that the influence of someone was the main reason they started to use drugs.

Music culture also plays a major role for many people on drugs, and the young are especially susceptible. Additionally, they are led with the examples of their idols from the entertainment world, who have a great influence over their young fans. Entertainment industry is particularly connected with drug abuse. Top performers on the music scene often become involved with heavy drugs at some stage in their career. Many film stars are also habitual drug users. Entertainers can give drugs a glamour and appeal that youths seem to find irresistible. In other words, the drug scene is glamorized in magazines, films, and television. Likewise, some prominent designers in the fashion world have favored models with the thin, wasted look, in imitation of the addicted.

But still, why do some get hooked?

Numerous factors contribute to increasing drug abuse: disillusionment, depression, lack of purpose in life. Additional reasons are economic problems, unemployment, poor parental examples. Some who have difficulty with human relationships use drugs to help them cope in social situations. They believe that drugs boost their confidence, making them feel witty and likable. Others simply find it easier to use drugs than to accept responsibility for taking control of their lives.

Boredom and lack of parental supervision is another reason youths turn to drugs. Boys and girls come home after school to empty houses. They are lonely and don’t want to be alone. With their friends they watch TV, cruise the Internet looking for excitement. Smoking, drug use, drinking can easily become part of this picture.

Once hooked, many continue to use drugs for a simple reason: they enjoy it. They find themselves in a dream world, can escape from any pressures, they never feel threatened. Everything seems to be beautiful and hilarious.

Warnings about the harm drugs can do just don’t scare youths. They turn to have an “it won’t happen to me” attitude or just ignore any warnings. Young people are so resilient and full of vitality that they don’t believe their health will suffer. This feeling of “invulnerability” is very common in adolescence. Teenagers view lung cancer, alcoholism, drug addiction as things that happen to people who are older, not to them. Many are simply unaware of the dangers, as illustrated by popularity of the drug ecstasy.

The amphetamine-based drug MDM known as ecstasy, is commonly used at night dance sessions called raves. The users promote the impression that taking ecstasy is a safe way to experience a euphoric feeling plus a bonus of boundless energy to dance the night away. The drug helps dancers to keep going for hours until they finally experience a “trance-like state of incredible warmth and love”.

Brain scans of regular ecstasy users have provided evidence that it is not the harmless drug sellers claim to be. It damages nerve fibers in the brain and reduces serotonin levels. In time, this may lead to disorders like depression and memory loss. Death is also possible when drug dealers mix ecstasy with heroin to hook their clients.

There are clearly many reasons why people abuse drugs. But these are all symptoms of a deeper problem, a root cause. Writer Ben Whitaker hinted at this: “The contemporary expansion of drug use is a warning signal of weaknesses and faults in our society, besides loneliness and despair: why otherwise should a significant number of talented and privileged people prefer drugs to the reality of the present day? ”

This is a good question, which makes us realize that our materialistic society often fails to meet our emotional and spiritual needs. Even most religions have not been able to fill those needs because they have overlooked the root cause of man’s problems. [22, p. 6-8]

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