“Stabbing spree”
"Stabbing spree" headlined in your newspaper dated 09 Aug 2009 in which an innocent child of 4 years was killed and many others were injured must have saddened everyone. It is also reported that the killer was a drug addict. His urine test will of course show what drug or drugs he has been abusing. It is most likely that the offending drug could be cannabis or ganja as is commonly known to us.
Cannabis is thought by many to be a mild "if not a harmless substance" and is used for pleasurable experience as well as during some religious rituals. Its misuse is not only widespread in developing countries like ours but also in developed countries like the USA where its rampant use is well known. Cannabis often helps people to relax and at times go off to sleep. But when used for a relatively long period it can make people lethargic and 'amotivational' that is their motivation to perform or progress in life is totally diminished. But another effect of the drug is to make people aggressive and paranoid i.e. experience persecutional beliefs. It can worsen schizophrenic symptoms of a person who has already been suffering from the disease. In the middle ages in Persia (Iran), one of the components of the drug cannabis called "Hashish" (Charas) which is the derived from the flowering tops and leaves of female cannabis plants were given to killers before they were sent to their murderous missions. The English word assassin has come from "Hashish". Another phenomenon of cannabis abuse can be a sudden phase of excitement, anger and violent aggression when the person can attack and even kill people. This is called "Running Amok". The unfortunate tragedy of yesterday might be an example of one such episode.
The praiseworthy works done by The Prothom Alo are appreciated by everyone in this country as far as awareness about the evils of drug misuse and its prevention are concerned. I would like to thank the newspaper for all they are doing but would also request them to try to do more to make people aware of the harmful use of drugs.
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