Who can say I did nothing wrong

A few weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised when I received some very interesting information from a Today Zaman reader, Mark Lieberman, who had read my July 20 column “Jittery kids and strung-out parents” and who has conducted research on the subject, as Mark describes it -- “the plague of drug abuse.” Lieberman has been in Turkey for over a decade and teaches at a university. Mixing with young adults in an academic setting and around campus, Lieberman observes their strengths and weaknesses. Lieberman is presently working on a book on this subject. He is author of “The Dope Book: All About Drugs” (1971). Lieberman's book addressed the growing drug problem in American culture in the late 1960s.

Things have changed a lot in Turkey since the days when the Pudding Shop on Divan Yolu in Sultanahmet in the '60s and '70s served tourist traveling the Hippie Trail, and travelers could get rides and exchange travel information about the route.

You can see more and more Turkish media coverage of the problem of drug abuse by Turkish youth.

I became aware that the problem is not quite like what I have been told by Turks. When I was leaving my bookstore late one evening a few years ago: I had worked late and bent down in front of the door to put the locks on the bar and as I stood up and turned around to walk away a young man came up and just started to try to choke me. I shouted at him in English. He was startled by this and ran off. The smell of glue or thinner was strong. He must have been high.

Certain areas of the city have become hangouts for young people using synthetic drugs and other substances.

Media releases indicate high schools have increasing violent incidents, and narcotic drugs are involved.

Children who seem to have everything are not exempt from drug abuse.

Like anywhere else in the world where concern for drug abuse exists, loved ones need to be aware with whom the child is spending time with and observe if his or her behavior is changing. Is the person taking unusual risks or preferring to be alone and withdrawing?

I had lunch the other day with a Canadian couple who've just returned to Turkey. They shared with me how surprised they were to see so many gated communities being built everywhere. People seem to think that by living in a gated community you are going to be in a safer environment. That's not always the case. Drugs can penetrate anywhere.

If a problem exists, it does not help to ignore that it exists. You can't escape from it.

Some cultures prefer to live in denial that there is a problem and just hope it will go away.

“Honor-shame” based cultures place more emphasis on what other people think. It may encourage secret wrongdoing.

Along with all the law enforcement efforts, rehabilitation programs and programs educating students and the general public about drug abuse need to be developed to help prevent the problem from getting worse. If you don't know what signs and symptoms to watch for visit this Web site:

http://helpguide.org/mental/drug_substance_abuse_addiction_signs_effects_treatment.htm

A loved one who struggles with drug abuse needs all the family support he or she can get. Whether we live in a guilt-based or shame-based culture, determining who's fault or wondering how many people know is not important. Helping the person in recovery is.

Usually after a person tries drugs, a vicious cycle begins. Drugs are addictive. Without help, drug abuse destroys families and takes lives.

"It's not a problem that we have a problem. It's a problem if we don't deal with the problem."--Mary Kay Utech