Preface Staying away from drugs is a long term struggle. Numerous environmental factors affect us differently such as; stress, peer pressure. Our own life style, too, determine our addictive
behavior.
Youth
can
be
easily
influenced by surroundings. Friends at school and college, media, family, and many other factors
bring
emotional
and
behavioral
changes. Present booklet has been prepared to guide our youth. By following 7-Ways (as
described) in your daily life, you can learn to prevent yourself from the menace of drug abuse. Riffat Sadiq
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1-Seek guidance of Allah Almighty Pray is a way of communication to your creator. You send your request to Allah Almighty by praying. He listens to every one of us, irrespective of our religious and ethnical differences. Whatever your religion is, if you call Him, He will surely respond you. Being the creator of entire universe, He knows all about others. He is the only one Who knows the intentions of people and what is going on behind the scene. In many cases, it was seen that friend or someone significant whom the victim relied on was responsible for drug initiation or other kinds of accidents. Therefore, always pray to Allah Almighty to guide you regarding making friends or other matters. You also pray Him to help you to be stayed away from all kinds of evils.
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How can you pray to Allah? ďƒ˜ You can pray to Allah at anytime, anywhere.
There is no definite time for pray. He listen you everywhere, prayer place, home, school, park etc. You go to mosque, temples, church to offer prayer on definite time but you can talk to Allah Almighty everywhere, anytime.
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2-Try To Be Part Of Good Company Try to find a company of good friends. Good friends not in term of appearance, status or extra ordinary attributes but in term of positive attitude. A friend having good self-esteem help you to build selfconfidence, sense of right and wrong and exhibits tolerance, if something bad happens in life. A good friend does not like to go to bad places, does not waste his/her time in useless activities, and discourages you whenever you try to be involved in those activities. We all also learn from each other through observation. The way people talk, the words they use, the topic they discuss, their interests influence each other. In a company, each member is influenced unconsciously by rest of members. If you are not interested in one thing, but continuous discussion or pressure will incline you later on to be involved in the same thing in which other members are interested.
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Resisting them for a long time is not possible for you. Being a part of good company, you can prevent yourself from going astray, for instance, drug addiction. How to find a good friend/company? At the first meeting, you merely can introduce yourself to someone whom you are interested to make your friend. Let him or her to introduce to you.
Do not make friend hurrily. Take some time to know the person, his/her habits, way of thinking or interests. In few meetings, you will come to know what type of person your friend is. Also talk to your parents/guardian or significant
other over this matter. Parents/guardian can guide you in better way. Take decision by own self so that you may boost
your self-confidence.
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3.Do Not Copy Others Young age is the golden age and everyone wants to enjoy it. During this age, external environment fascinates a lot such as; media, games. Celebrities from showbiz and sports are admired by youth. Their hairstyle, attire and fame seem charming to them. Besides, their attitude, way of talking, gestures and postures are copied by youngsters. Each action of celebrities in the movies or live shows looks attractive to them. As a result, they forget themselves and start copying them without differentiation. But keep in mind that you are unique among all human beings. You are different and would have some unique qualities which others do not possess. Therefore, focus on yourself and explore your inner. Don't copy others all the time and try to be satisfied what actually you are.
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How to avoid copying others? 
First try to know yourself, Ask question from yourself Who am I? What do I want? What can I do?
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Focus on your abilities, talent and resources not on what others are doing. Attire, make up and particular style of celebrities never make you satisfied as your own unique personality can.
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If you are going to copy others/celebrities then first you need to differentiate between good and bad behaviors and lifestyle. For instance; copying a hairstyle/attire of celebrity is not harmful for you as copying the smoking/drinking behavior is.
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4.Express Yourself Creative activities are the source of expression, having soothing effects on our mental health. Camouflaging inner feelings and emotions may develop certain pathologies. Most of the time, youth have complaints from parents and elders for not providing sufficient time to them. Some are not allowed freedom of expression, especially girls. Some belongs to dysfunctional families. Many other things may disturb the youngsters. Youth feel difficulty in finding appropriate ways to express them. In many countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh), they are not having facilities as youth living in developed countries such as America, Canada. Variety of methods can be used to express self that cost nothing.
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How to express self?
Express your feelings and emotions in positive ways such as writing essays, poems, painting, designing, making recipes, sharing with significant one. If no one is there to share your feelings, then try to write a story about yourself. Also talk to Almighty after prayer, He will listen you and make you relaxed. You can sit in the public park, walk there, go for jogging and to beach alone or with family member or friend. You can play games with your friends, sit with them discussing something. If you have no beach or public park in your city/town then you can sit in prayer place (mosque, temple, church) for few minutes and say whatever is in your mind. You can also join a group doing welfare or creative activities for special purpose.
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5. Do Some Exercises Mental and physical exercises are effective for both body and mind. Mostly, we do physical exercise but do not go for making our mind relax. Though, body fitness also lead to mental health but some mental exercises are needed in this regard. In the current era, our youth have a lot of physical and mental work to do. They spend most of their time sitting in front of computer. They are exposed to multiple stimuli at a time. Apparently, they seem very energetic but they need to spend some time to physically and mentally relax them so that they could avoid harmful things.
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How to relax body and mind?
Do some physical exercises like jogging, walking. You can also play games such as; football, cricket, hockey, tennis etc. Cycling can also be a physical exercise.
For mental relaxation, you can do meditation, yoga and deep breathing. For deep breathing, sit in a calm place, close your eyes and inhale and exhale for minimum 5 to 10 minutes. You can do this exercise in home, park, holy place or any other place where you feel comfortable.
You can also go to your prayer place, sit there for 15 to 20 minutes for mental relaxation. Prayer also serves the function of both physical and mental exercise.
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6. Set Life Goals Life has numerous purposes and we cannot live successfully without setting life goals. We set goals based on our desires. Later life depends on the stage at which we set career goals. Young age is the age of career decision and development. Career decision is taken considering aptitude, personality types and other resources. Life goals also prevent from indulging in useless activities. Once you decide what you want to achieve from your life, then you will focus on target in spite of wasting your time here and there. Having appropriate goals in your life, you will be more productive and satisfied. Other decisions like making friends/ having intimate relations depends on your career decision. How to set life goals? First you examine yourself what potentials you have and what you actually want to do.
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Sometimes, our aptitude and desire to achieve contradict to each other. Set your goals, especially, your career goals in the light of what intellectual and creative resources you have been blessed with by nature. If you have problem in this regard, then discuss with any significant one, teacher, parent, and guardian or get help from career counselor. Your abilities and aptitude determine your success in the career you choose.
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7. Dare to say ' No' Many times, we feel pressure from outside to do or follow something. Following/obeying others, especially elders or authority figure concerning appropriate targeted goals, is not wrong. But following/obeying others without considering consequences may be harmful. Many became the drug addicts by following their friends, colleagues and other relatives. When they were offered drugs, they did not say no. Some used drugs by just observing them or sitting with them for a long time. They unconsciously became follower to drug addict companion. Youth like to spend their time with friends and companions to enjoy their golden age; therefore, there are more chances of being trapped by pressure coming from circle of friends. They have fear of rejection from group or friend or not are bold enough to say no to them. For these reason, they usually start experimenting drugs sitting with friends or other companions.
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How to say no to others?
If someone offers you a cigarette or something else then, do ask questions like, what is this? What is the benefit of it? Why are you using that?
Refuse to experiment a cigarette or other drugs even you are being made fun by others, rejected or deemed a coward person.
Do not care of losing friends who want you to use drugs or indulge in useless activities. Do not be fearful of being rejected by them. Dare to say no and go on another way, you will find people having positive attitude. You do not need to develop fear of being alone. You will never be alone if someone leaves you.
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