Drugs are chemical substances that can change the way one thinks and works. People use drugs to change their feelings. The most abused drugs are​marijuana or cocaine, heroin and alcohol. Drug abuse is common in almost all the developed and developing countries. Billions of dollars are spent internationally for preventing drug abuse, treating addicts and fighting drug related crimes.

Drug abuse causes multiple problems in countries and communities. Firstly, it causes medical and psychological problems. It is obvious that addicts can not function as normal members of the society. They neglect or abuse their families and eventually they require expensive treatment or hospitalisation. In Tanzania, especially in urban areas, it is common to see teenagers who are not only weak but also sick. These young men and women are so aggressive and they constantly break the law. In addition, they are extremely violent as they easily get into physical fights. These Tanzanian addicts pose a vivid example of the medical and Psychological problems faced by the addicts all over the world.

The second problem caused by drug abuse is the increase of crimes. There are some crimes which are either drug influenced or drug related. These crimes are petty or organised ones. Drug addicts are likely to involve themselves into such petty crimes as robbery, burglary and theft. They do so because they want money to buy drugs and food. It is worth noting that most drug addicts are not employed. Drug dealers can also organise themselves into criminal gangs which get money from drugs. Police and legal resources are therefore needed to fight crime related to drugs or the crimes influenced by drugs.

However, the threat of drugs can be fought successfully if some strategies are employed. Education on drug abuse is the first way of combating the problem. People, especially children, need to be educated at home or in school about drugs. People need to be aware of drugs so that they can avoid using them. Also, families and counsellors need to talk to children and people at risk. Parents need to take care of their children and help them to become responsible citizens. Moreover, jobs need to be created to give people sources of steady income. However, effective laws should be enacted so that the criminals can be caught and taken to the court.

Although the problem of drug abuse may seem impossible to eliminate easily, there are concrete strategies that can be taken to weaken drug dealing in the society. The danger of drugs is too great to ignore.

(a) Answer the following questions with reference to the passage.

(i) Where in Tanzania is drug abuse mostly practised? ……………………………………………………………………………………….

(ii) Who is a drug addict? ………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………….

(iii) Why are drug addicts involved in crimes? ………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………….

(iv) Explain the meaning of the expression, “Multiple problems.” ………………………………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………………….

(v) Give three ways of eliminating drug abuse

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(b) Foreachofthefollowingstatements,write​TRUEifthestatementiscorrector​FALSEif the statement is not correct.

(i) Countries spend a lot of money to fight drug abuse. …………………………

(ii) Drug addicts are very polite. …………………………

(iii) Parents have roles to play in combating drug abuse. …………………………

(iv) USually people who use drugs do not break the law. …………………………

(v) The problem of drug abuse is so big that we cannot solve it. ……………………