Lately, governors from some countries have increased their efforts to combat drugs. They have alloted more of the budget to it, developed large-scale campaigns to  educate the public, and developed some punitive measures.
 
Populations in general seem to welcome this tendency, which tries to hinder the growing use of drugs, specially by young people.
 
These actions seem to be having some positive effect, namely in pulling down one or two drug dealers’ networks. But... as far as diminishing the use of drugs, the results are very few, almost none.
Perhaps it is wise to ponder about what could or should be done to reduce, once and for all, the use of drugs to an inconsequential level. Or, even better, what could be added to what has already been done so far.
 
In its different areas, education seems to play an important and even decisive role. At home, in basic and secondary schools and universities, in sports associations, in the media, in social institutions and others, something more can be done. If educators face the phenomenon, they will soon be able to sensitize young people around the world to the advantages of living far from this vice.
As populations advance culturally, they will naturally break free from drugs. From their cultivation, marketing and use.
 
It is logical that when South-American and Asian farmers become more culturally developed, they will easily be able to find alternative uses for their plantations, or even new means of survival for themselves and their families.
 
Another important thing is that young people should grow up knowing that tobacco and alcohol (which are drugs as well, and this is sometimes forgotten) don’t bring them to maturity — quite the opposite: they stymie their growth. Using drugs doesn’t make them free from anything (it is just a brief illusion). It makes them psychically dependent, or in other words, it creates an insatiable desire for the drug and a physical dependency, which is characterized by withdrawal symptoms they take none (sweating profusely, nausea, muscle cramping, etc.).
 
Therefore, older people should be courageous enough to give the youth  dignifying examples, or at least take responsibility for their own mistakes. It is not likely for a young person to follow the advice of an educator whose path is quiet the opposite.
 
But to intellectual education we should add moral education, which will enable the different members of the drug chain (from the farmer to the consumer, including specially the dealer), now with a better character, to feel, according to their own consciences, the need to dedicate themselves to other activities that will favour their own physical and psychic well-being, as well as those of the others around them.
 
It is also important to make everyone conscious of the fact that everything they do wrong, they do to themselves. They can vicariously harm a third person with their actions, but even then it’s still their responsibility.
 
It seems dangerous to believe, as so often happens, that some day in the future, a person can regret his mistakes and find an easy forgiveness without consequences.
 
Reality shows us that everything we do is done. And if there is something to correct, it is the person himself who must develop the effort required to correct his previous attitudes. Family, friends, health technicians and others can support him. But it is each one of us who that has to make an effort to correct his evolving path.
 
 

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