Chronicles DIM_002_Illegal Drugs by Chronicles DIM

THE TEAM

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This week’s thought - Enthusiasm! “Those who are fired with an enthusiastic idea and who allow it to take hold and dominate their thoughts find that new worlds open for them. As long as enthusiasm holds out, so will new opportunities.”

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The

The of theme 014 / 3 1 2 the 20 rence confe ENT: ELOPM V E D L GLOBA HANCING OMIC EN ECON IONAL R THE T N E V CON N ICES FO PRACT N OF HUMA E O I R T U PROMO AND A SEC S RIGHT OSTERITY. P

PGA Bureau

he PGA Bureau is composed A team is only as strong as of the director generals, its weakest link therefore the PGA the president of the general Bureau engages itself in various assembly and the vice-president of teambuilding activities that help the general assembly. This bureau bring together the various members is headed by the PGA who is part of the bureau. This is important in of the national secretariat in Kenya developing harmony and cohesion Model United Nations KMUN. The in the team, thus enabling the PGA is the de facto leader of the bureau to be able to carry out its s e e focus m e h t bureau and has full authority over all activities effectively and efficiently. ’s ar und This ye o r g r the members of the PGA Bureau. The PGA Bureau looks e d n on the u h c a e The PGA Bureau is tasked with forward to seeing the delegates y and A G econom P certain, very important responsibilities well versed in the rules of e th e under e t t t i r and duties which include; the training procedure, with all the necessary o m ep com tten a r i r w s of delegates in the various KMUN conference documents (position a h e with bureau m e h t chapters, directing the conduct of any papers, note papers etc) and s i n th ling k based o c a t official meetings and ensuring the who are eager to participate. e mmitte t a observance of the rules of procedure. Misconduct shall not be h t each co e ent issu r e f f i All these responsibilities aim to ensure tolerated and none of the d l a a the glob g n i u an accurate simulation of the UN. delegates should behave g is pla e PGA h T . y The PGA Bureau’s motto is, themselves in a manner that t i n ith commu w n o i The highest standards of efficiency, is derogates the respect s ’s mis o t s i Bureau e competence and integrity. The whole accorded to them as the them o t t c e e PGA bureau conducts itself in a manner delegates. p h t res infor m d n a e that always keeps true to the motto. And The PGA Bureau t educa various e h t f o these three values are seen as critical to the encourages students of the es ities delegat v i t c a effective running of the bureau. various universities to join d roun ng i t a l underg u KMUN. It is a wonderful m sti goal of The PGA Bureau takes social experience that will build the with the mongst a e t a responsibility very seriously and every year you and expose you to a b f de e end o h t o t they partake in at least one CSR project. It is s lot of great things. e delegat these o t s n in the bureau’s belief that it is important to o i solut finding give back to the community and to support the s. problem society in which we live.

F E AT U R E S T O RY

THE QUESTION OF CURBING THE PROLIFERATION OF

ILLEGAL DRUGS

he forbidden fruits taste the sweetest. Perhaps this notion could best explain the why there is growing increase world over in the use of illegal drugs. Illegal drugs generally refer to drugs whose use or production is prohibited or strictly controlled by prescription. The laws prohibiting the use of drugs however are different in every country for instance; Khat (Miraa) is legal in Kenya but is illegal in Tanzania. For this reason, it is important that individuals become aware of what drugs are illegal in their country. Drugs have been part of our culture since the middle of the 20th century. They were popularized in the 1960s by music and mass media and invaded all aspects of society. Today, the youth are more exposed to drugs than before. Worse still this exposure begins at a very early age. The United Nations 2008 World Drug Report estimates that about 3.9% of the world’s population between the ages of 15 and 64, abuse marijuana. Many of the young people who take up the use of illegal drugs do so, in pursuit of solutions to their problems hoping to escape the harshness of reality.

It is estimated that

208 million

people internationally consume illegal drugs

Written By: Marryane Kamau, ChairPerson of the ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL 13 th Kenya MUN Session. “Global Development: Enhancing Conventional Economic Practices for the Promotion of Human Rights and a Secure Posterity”

For others it is intended as some form of relaxation, to kill boredom, to fit in, to experiment, to appear grown up or for the sake of rebelling. Unknown to most who start off this dreadful behavior, drug use is a worse off problem than that which it is intended to solve. Drugs have a negative effect on the physical and mental health . They directly affect the mind and can distort the user’s perception of what is happening around him or her causing rather odd, irrational, inappropriate and even destructive actions. Additionally, they blur memory, make a person feel slow or stupid and causing him to have nothing but failures in life. In addition to these mental and physical effects, illegal drug use can also cause social, legal and economic problems. The social risks attributed to illegal drug use emanate largely from the impaired judgement of a drug user. Users for instance often engage in risky sexual behavior which exposes them to HIV/AIDS infections and other sexually transmitted diseases . Beyond that, drug use could lead to serious personal problems that affect relationships with friends, family and the society as a whole.

Young people could also volunteer at local drug education and prevention programmes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best solution to the drug problem is educationâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? Practical and effective drug education tools give the youth solid facts which enable them to choose drug-free lives all on their own. Lastly, the youth could also engage with the local law enforcement thorough cooperation which involves giving off information on any drug related activities to the relevant authorities. In Kenya, there is established, the Kenya Police Anti-Narcotics Unit (ANU) formed

With respect to the legal risks, it goes without saying that the use of drugs that are considered illegal could constitute a criminal offence.

Drug related offences often result in conviction which could attract a fine or several years of imprisonment. In Kenya, Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, the use of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance attracts a fine of two hundred and fifty thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both such fine and imprisonment . In addition, drug use and the crime are closely interrelated. Illegal drug trade thrives in areas where there is little or no presence of law enforcement. This in turn creates an environment that sustains crime and high levels of impunity where the drug lords lord over the streets. Similarly, drug users tend to act irrationally and violently and such actions often lead to them committing crimes. High levels of crime in any given society automatically ties down its economic growth. Most illegal drugs are addictive while at the same time expensive. As a result users are left craving for more and spending more resources, which would otherwise be put to better use, to get drugs. The health issues attributed to continued drug abuse are also addressed at a very pricy cost. Rehabilitation facilities and services offered to those willing to quit are quite dear.

Given the perils that come with the use of illegal drugs, it is imperative that a lot of focus is drawn towards curtailing the proliferation of illegal drug use. The youth, who are the greatest victims to this vice, have a chance at participating in prevention activities that reduce the spread of drug use. The first step requires some form of self initiative where the individuals resort on their volition to steer clear of any form of illegal substances and drug abuse. This would require great sense of discipline and self restraint. The other applies in the form of positive peer pressure where, instead of rallying their peers to try illegal drugs, they pressure them into avoiding drugs and for those who are already hooked, quitting.

in 1983 within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and charged with fighting drug trafficking and related crimes. While a majority shy away from contacting the authorities with information relating to illegal drug activities in fear that doing so would jeopardize their safety, it should be noted that the government has since 1st September 2008 established a Witness Protection Agency charged with the responsibility of offering special of protection persons in possession of important information and who are facing potential risk or intimidation due to their co-operation with prosecution and other law enforcement agencies. Following through these â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;prevention activitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; draws the us an inch closer to a drug free world.

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This weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Face of Chronicles

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