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Tag: Abuse

  • Drugs – An Ugly and Temporary Escape From Reality

    Drugs – An Ugly and Temporary Escape From Reality

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    People that use drugs to cope with life do so because of what the drugs do to them. Most drug addicts have experienced pain from something that has happened to them in the past and the drugs, for a short time, have made that pain go away. Once they realize that the drugs do in fact make them feel better is when the abuse begins to happen.

    Most drugs do a great job of taking reality out of the minds of the user. They feel free once the drugs begin to kick in. They don’t care about the past or anything of that pain that has haunted them and they feel invincible living in the moment. The only problem is that each time the addict does the drug, he or she needs to do even more of it to get to the same feeling.

    What drug abusers don’t understand is that the drugs don’t take away from the problem, they only add to it. The reality of life never goes away it is just masked and distorted due to the effect that the drugs have. In order to overcome this life full of pain and hurt is not to go to drugs for relief, but to deal with life head on. And this is what the drug rehab places do so well.

    Drug rehab centers are there to help the addict overcome their physical addiction to the drug or drugs. They then confine in the individual to learn that the drugs are in fact not their best escape but just a temporary release that compounds their own situation for the worst. True relief from the pain that haunts them is to see the past for what it really is, something that happened before and is now out of everyone’s control. Once they realize that they can’t change something that has happened, they can then learn to live life from this point on.

    The drug rehab centers goal is to educate the addict about their illness so they can understand how to control their mind and eventually learn to live a productive life. They hope to instill in them a confidence that any goal they set to achieve can be accomplished no matter what their situation was or where they came from.

    Drugs are in ugly escape from reality that gives the user an invincible feeling for a short amount of time. Drug addicts too can change but first have to become knowledgeable about their situation and then want to make the change.

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    Source by Wade Davis

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  • The Rise of High School Drug Testing

    The Rise of High School Drug Testing

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    School districts, much like employers, have begun to implement drug-testing policies. Many school officials cite statistics related to school performance and safety among drug users. Whether the drug testing acts as a method of screening students or as a method of deterrence from drug use, the popularity of this practice has increased significantly in many school systems.

    Supporters of high school drug testing often cite governmental statistics. These numbers show a steadily growing number of teenage drug users each year. Those in favor of mandatory drug testing suggest that such measures may be effective in keeping teenagers from using drugs. Fear of facing expulsion from school or punishment from their parents may be a good deterrent for high school students.

    Although some officials would like to see a policy of mandatory testing of every student, most drug screenings require parental consent. Most schools require that there be probable cause or reasonable suspicion before requesting a drug test. If a teacher notices a student who appears aloof or has red and glassy eyes, he or she may request a drug test.

    More common than random or suspicion-based high school drug testing is the testing of high school athletes. In nearly every school district, students who wish to compete in school sports must sign a release for a drug screening. This has become common in schools because of statistics showing that male high school athletes have a greater risk of drug abuse. These facts, accompanied by the fear of injury during competitions, have fueled the debate and existence of drug testing among athletes.

    Opponents of drug testing claim that it is a violation of privacy to require students to take drug tests. Privacy advocates suggest that with requests for mandatory drug screenings comes the potential for abuse. A few cases have existed in which a student was randomly searched and found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. In these cases, the students were either suspended from school or sent to drug rehabilitation centers; it is often the case that these students were productive in school and were not necessarily considered to be problem students. Regardless of these isolated cases, many school districts defend the benefits of drug testing. Although formal statistics do not prove the theory, many educational experts believe that high school drug testing deters students from using or abusing illegal drugs.

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    Source by Damian Sofsian

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  • Top 6 Ways to Get An Angry Customer To Back Down

    Top 6 Ways to Get An Angry Customer To Back Down

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    1. Apologize. An apology makes the angry customer feel heard and understood. It diffuses and anger and allows you to begin to re-establish trust. Not only that, but pilot studies have found that the mere act of apologizing has reduced lawsuits, settlement, and defense costs. You need to apologize to customers regardless of fault. Certainly, the apology needs to be carefully worded. Here’s an example of a sincere, yet careful apology:

    “Please accept my sincere and unreserved apology for any inconvenience this may have caused you.”

    2. Kill Them Softly With Diplomacy. This simple phrase has never failed me: “Clearly, we’ve upset you and I want you to know that getting to the bottom of this is just as important to me as it is to you.” When you say this, anger begins to dissipate. You’ve addressed the anger directly and non defensively and you haven’t been pulled into the drama of the attack.

    3. Go into Computer Mode. To use Computer Mode you take on the formalities of a computer. You speak generally, without emotion, and you don’t take the bait your angry or difficult customer is throwing you. Your words, tone, and attitude are completely impersonal and neutral – (Think of the automated response system you speak to when you call your wireless phone company or bank.)

    This “computer mode” response deflects, diffuses, and disarms angry customers because you don’t add fuel to the fire by giving your difficult customer what they want -an emotional reaction. When you don’t take the bait, the difficult customer is forced to stop dead in their tracks. And that means you regain control (and confidence).

    The Computer Mode Approach In Action

    Let’s say your customer says:

    “You don’t give a d*** about customers. Once you get a customer locked into a contract, the service aspect is over.”

    While it may be tempting to fuel the fire with an equally hostile response such as “What’s your problem, creep?”

    Don’t take the bait. If you do take the bait, the situation will only escalate and nothing productive or positive will result. A computer mode response might look like this:

    “I’m sure there are some people who think we don’t care about servicing customers.”

    “People get irritated when they don’t immediately get the help they need.”

    “It’s very annoying to experience a delay in service response.”

    “Nothing is more distressing than feeling like you’re being passed around when all you want is help.”

    And then you stop -like a locked up computer.

    No matter how uncomfortable the verbal abuse is or how ridiculous it becomes, continue to respond without emotion. This tactic works because it is neutral, doesn’t take the bait, and because it is unexpected. The difficult customer wants to throw you off, make you lose control, and to get you to respond emotionally. When you fail to do each of these things, you actually regain control.

    Go into “computer mode” the next time you’re faced with verbal abuse from an irate or unreasonable customer, and I promise you, you’ll quickly regain control —and you’ll have fun with the process.

    4. Give this question a shot: “Have I done something personally to upset you?… I’d like to be a part of the solution.” Of course, you know you haven’t done anything to upset the customer. You ask this question to force the angry customer to think about his behavior. Often, the mere asking of this question is enough to get the ballistic customer to begin to shift from the right brain to the left brain, where he can begin to listen and rationalize.

    5. Show empathy – Empathy can be a powerful tool used to disarm an angry customer and show that you genuinely care about the inconvenience the customer has experienced. Expressing empathy is also good for YOU, as it helps you truly begin to see the problem from the customer’s perspective/and this perspective will help keep you from losing your cool when your customer gets hot. By letting customers know that you understand why they are upset, you build a bridge of rapport between you and them.

    Here are some phrases that express empathy:

    o “That must have been very frustrating for you.”

    o “I realize the wait you encountered was an inconvenience.”

    o “If I were in your shoes, I’m sure I’d feel just as you do.”

    o “It must have been very frustrating for you have waited five days for your order and for that I am sorry.”

    6. And finally, here’s a tip that works like magic. …. Show appreciation for the difficult person’s feedback. After your difficult customer has ranted and raved, you can regain control of the conversation by interjecting—not interrupting, but interjecting to thank them for taking the time to give you feedback. You can say something like:

    Thanks for being so honest.

    Thanks for taking the time to let us know how you feel.

    We appreciate customers who let us know when things aren’t right.

    Thanks for caring so much.

    The reason this tip works so effectively is because the last thing your irate or unreasonable customer expects is for you to respond with kindness and gratitude. It’s a shock factor and many times you’ll find that your customer is stunned silent and this is exactly what you want. When the customer is stunned into silence, you get in the driver’s seat and steer the conversation in the direction you want it to go.

    When you do these things you’ll find that being on the receiving end of verbal abuse doesn’t have to be threatening or intimidating. You can come across as confident, composed and strong…and most importantly, you’ll regain control of the conversation.

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    Source by Myra Golden

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  • Cost of Alcohol Abuse is Far Greater Than Drug Abuse in California, Says Study

    Cost of Alcohol Abuse is Far Greater Than Drug Abuse in California, Says Study

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    The misuse and abuse of alcohol and drugs can have various repercussions, not only on the individuals doing that and their families, but also on the society as a whole. One of its major consequences is financial burden. Besides causing health complications and raising concerns for public safety, alcohol and drugs cost the United States billions of dollars every year.

    Like the impact, the economic cost of these substances varies immensely from one place to another. In fact, the cost of alcohol misuse is relatively far greater than the cost of drug misuse in most counties in the U.S. Since studies related to economic and social costs of alcohol and drug abuse are generally conducted at the state and national levels, this allows policymakers to better assess the problems within their jurisdiction and come up with countermeasures.

    Similarly, a study, led by author Ted Miller and conducted at the Prevention Research Center of Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, sought to find out the consequences of alcohol and drug misuse in California and was published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (ACER).

    Alcohol abuse cost California $129 billion in 2010

    The study highlighted the eye-opening economic burden of alcohol and drug related problems on the Californian taxpayer’s money across all 58 counties and 50 midsized cities. It was found that alcohol-related problems are more prevalent and costlier than drug-related problems in California. Moreover, both costs and repercussions varied greatly from one place to another. Some other findings are as follows:

    • While alcohol-related problems cost $129 billion in 2010, which comes to $3,450 for every Californian, drug-related problems cost $44 billion in the same year.
    • The highest per capita cost ($7,819) of alcohol problem was more than three times the lowest per capita cost ($2,588). Among the counties with drug-related problems the per capita cost varied between $608 and $3,786.
    • The rates of alcohol and drug-related problems were found to be higher in the Californian cities. The highest per capita cost of alcohol-related problems in a city was $10,734, 11 times higher than the city with the lowest costs. Among the cities, the highest per capita cost of drug-related problems was $7,159, almost 19 times higher than the city with the lowest cost.

    Correspondingly, the breakup of alcohol and drug-related costs are as follows:

    • Crashes and accidents under the influence of alcohol cost $26 billion in 2010.
    • Of the $10 billion cost borne due to violence associated to substance use, 73 percent was attributed to alcohol, while the remaining 27 percent was attributed to drugs.
    • Of the $127 billion expenditure incurred due to other illnesses and injuries, 73 percent of the costs resulted from alcohol-related problems. Similarly, 82 percent of the $4 billion cost incurred due to nonviolent crimes were attributed to drug abuse.
    • 74 percent of $2 billion incurred due to treatment expenditure was attributed to drug-related problems.

    The study authors believe that the findings can assist policymakers and help the state in planning and allocating resources for substance abuse problems. In addition, this study provides a crucial tool for predicting and averting alcohol and drug-related problems, as well as a crucial means to plot localized cost estimates.

    According to Dr. Miller, “Efficient funding of substance abuse prevention, enforcement and treatment hinges upon understanding the variation of alcohol and other drug problems from place to place. Because estimated costs combine data across many health and social issues, they provide an effective, comprehensible, and comprehensive measure for use in understanding how communities shape their distinctive social environments and for monitoring the effectiveness of our intervention strategies.”

    Avoid the death trap

    In 2010, problems related to alcohol and drugs in California led to 22,281 and 5,533 deaths, respectively. In addition, crimes related to alcohol and drugs were responsible for 350,000 and 164,000 deaths, respectively. These large and unsettling numbers are pertaining to only one of the 50 U.S. states, signaling a far greater magnitude of the problem.

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    Source by Susan Navarez

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  • Joint Leader’s statement – Violence against children: A hidden crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic

    Joint Leader’s statement – Violence against children: A hidden crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic

     

    The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact across the world. Efforts to contain the coronavirus are vital to the
    health of the world’s population, but they are also exposing children to increased risk of violence – including maltreatment,
    gender-based violence and sexual exploitation.

    As leaders of organisations committed to ending violence against children, we come together in solidarity to share our deep
    concern, call for action and pledge our support to protect children from violence and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on
    children in every country and community.

    A third of the global population is on COVID-19 lockdown, and school closures have impacted more than 1.5 billion children.
    Movement restrictions, loss of income, isolation, overcrowding and high levels of stress and anxiety are increasing the
    likelihood that children experience and observe physical, psychological and sexual abuse at home – particularly those
    children already living in violent or dysfunctional family situations. And while online communities have become central to
    maintain many children’s learning, support and play, it is also increasing their exposure to cyberbullying, risky online behavior
    and sexual exploitation.

    The situation is aggravated by children’s lack of access to schoolfriends, teachers, social workers and the safe space and
    services that schools provide. The most vulnerable children – including refugees, migrants, and children who are internally
    displaced, deprived of liberty, living without parental care, living on the street and in urban slums, with disabilities, and living
    in conflict-affected areas – are a particular concern. For many, growing economic vulnerability will increase the threat of child
    labour, child marriage and child trafficking.

    We must act now. Together, we call on governments, the international community and leaders in every sector to urgently
    respond with a united effort to protect children from the heightened risk of violence, exploitation and abuse as part of the
    broader response to COVID-19.

    Governments have a central role to play. They must ensure that COVID-19 prevention and response plans integrate age
    appropriate and gender sensitive measures to protect all children from violence, neglect and abuse. Child protection services
    and workers must be designated as essential and resourced accordingly.

    Working with and supporting governments, our collective response must include: maintaining essential health and social
    welfare services, including mental health and psychosocial support; providing child protection case management and
    emergency alternative care arrangements; ensuring social protection for the most vulnerable children and households;
    continuing care and protection for children in institutions; and communicating with and engaging parents, caregivers and
    children themselves with evidence-based information and advice. National helplines, school counsellors and other child-friendly
    reporting mechanisms enable children in distress to reach out for help, and must be adapted to the challenges of COVID-19.

    Given the heightened risks of online harms, technology companies and telecoms providers must do everything they can
    to keep children safe online. This includes providing access to cost-free child helplines, age-appropriate services and safe
    e-education platforms – and using their platforms to share child online safety advice. They must also do more to detect and
    stop harmful activity against children online, including grooming and the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse
    images and videos.

    As global organisations working to end violence against children, we will continue to advocate for and invest in effective child
    protection solutions. We will collectively develop and share technical resources and guidance for policymakers, practitioners,
    parents, caregivers and children themselves. And we will support the courageous health, child protection and humanitarian
    professionals working around the clock to keep children safe during these unprecedented times.

    In recent years, the global community has made significant gains in protecting children from violence. We must not allow those
    gains to be lost during the current turmoil. We must do all we can to keep children safe now. And we must plan ahead together,
    so that once the immediate health crisis is over, we can get back on track towards the goal of ending all forms of violence,
    abuse and neglect of children

     

    Joint Leader's statement - Violence against children: A hidden crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic 1

     

    Joint Leader's statement - Violence against children: A hidden crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic
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    https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/08-04-2020-joint-leader-s-statement—violence-against-children-a-hidden-crisis-of-the-covid-19-pandemic

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  • Bersih questions use of aid packages featuring names and faces of politicians

    Bersih questions use of aid packages featuring names and faces of politicians

    Bersih questions use of aid packages featuring names and faces of politicians 2

    PETALING JAYA: The coalition for clean and fair elections (Bersih 2.0) has expressed concern over the faces and names of elected politicians appearing on Covid-19 gifts for constituents such as rice and hand sanitisers.

    They alleged some may involve abuse of government funding and has called on all involved representatives to publicly declare the cost and source of such gifts.

    “If government funds are abused for politicians to seek gratification, it may warrant investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under Section 23 of the MACC Act,” they said in a statement today.

    They have gathered as many as 19 politicians and classified them into three categories with different issues.

    The categories are:

    > Category A: Whereby federal and state frontbenchers have obviously abused their positions as ministers or state excos to provide Covid-19 gifts to their constituents.

    > Category B: Whereby elected representatives may have used constituency allocations to distribute these items

    > Category C: Those who fork out their own money to distribute Covid-19 gifts to their constituents.

    Bersih 2.0 said two federal ministers, a federal deputy minister and a state exco have their faces and names featured on gift packs in both their capacities as federal/state minister and constituency.

    “If the gifts were funded using executive resources under their watch, Bersih 2.0 believes they have abused their ministerial power and should be subject to investigation under the MACC Act. However, if the funds have come from their Constituency Development Fund or other constituency allocation, their cases would be the same as in category B,” it said.

    Bersih questions use of aid packages featuring names and faces of politicians
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    https://www.thesundaily.my/local/bersih-questions-use-of-aid-packages-featuring-names-and-faces-of-politicians-CE2204037

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  • Group Tells Nigerians To Report Cases Of Domestic Violence While Observing Stay-at-home Order

    Group Tells Nigerians To Report Cases Of Domestic Violence While Observing Stay-at-home Order

    Group Tells Nigerians To Report Cases Of Domestic Violence While Observing Stay-at-home Order 3

    Group Tells Nigerians To Report Cases Of Domestic Violence While Observing Stay-at-home Order 4


     

    Women at Risk International Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on reducing the prevalence of gender-based violence in Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to report any case of domestic or gender-based violence that may occur during the period of stay-at-home order by the government.

    WARIF expressed fear that as the number of Coronavirus cases continue to increase across Nigeria and with stringent measures being put in place for individuals to quarantine and self-isolate, people might be at risk of being harmed by their abusers during the period.

    Founder of WARIF, Dr Kemi Da-Silva Ibru, urged all affected adults and caregivers of young children to make use of its 24-hour confidential help line to report any case of sexual abuse.

    Ibru said, “As borders close down in many countries, and governments institute mandatory lock downs and families are sequestered; children and women at risk will be locked in and quarantined with their abusers in very volatile home environments, we envisage an increase in the cases of domestic and sexual violence as abusers now see this as an opportunity to cause harm to these groups.

    “We urge all individuals at risk to please make use of our 24 hours helpline 0809 210 0009 or send messages to our social media platforms on @Warif_ng.”

     

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    Group Tells Nigerians To Report Cases Of Domestic Violence While Observing Stay-at-home Order
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  • (Video) Soldiers nab thief who stole from mosque, temple donation boxes

    (Video) Soldiers nab thief who stole from mosque, temple donation boxes

    (Video) Soldiers nab thief who stole from mosque, temple donation boxes 7

    JASIN: Soldiers on duty under the movement control order (MCO) helped solve a theft case within six hours after it occurred in Bemban, near here, yesterday.

    Together with the police, the soldiers arrested a thief who had earlier stolen cash from donation boxes at a mosque and temple in Jasin and Selandar respectively.

    The three soldiers who were on joint-duty with four policemen were manning a roadblock at Jalan Gapam, Bemban, when they spotted the suspect riding a motorcycle nearby.

    On seeing the police and soldiers, the suspect jumped off his machine and began fleeing on foot.

    The policemen and soldiers gave chase and on capturing him, the 21-year-old suspect put up a violent struggle to escape.

    However, he was subdued and promptly arrested.

    Jasin police chief DSP Mispani Hamdan said the chairman of the As-Salam mosque in Kampung Kesang Tua had lodged a report in the morning after finding several donation boxes at the premises broken and cash amounting to hundreds of ringgit missing.

    He said soon after receiving the report, police examined footage retrieved from a close-circuit television camera (CCTV) which showed the suspect in the act.

    Mispani said the suspect had also broken into a Chinese temple in Selandar and was caught on CCTV at the premises.

    “Apart from his motorcycle, we recovered a lighter and an apparatus commonly used for consuming drugs from the suspect.

    “He also tested positive for methamphetamine abuse. The success of this case was a result of the joint-cooperation between the police and military,“ he told theSun when contacted

    (Video) Soldiers nab thief who stole from mosque, temple donation boxes
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    https://www.thesundaily.my/local/video-soldiers-nab-thief-who-stole-from-mosque-temple-donation-boxes-XC2172356

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  • CND accepts all WHO recommendations on the control of several psychoactive substances from the 42nd ECDD meeting

    CND accepts all WHO recommendations on the control of several psychoactive substances from the 42nd ECDD meeting

     

    During its 63rd session, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) accepted all recommendations from the 42nd meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD). This effectively brings twelve psychoactive substances, including eleven New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and one medicine, under international control.  Given the potential for dependence or abuse and known adverse effects, these compounds pose a risk to public health and society and are largely without any therapeutic benefit.

       Based on an in-depth review of candidate compounds by the ECDD, an independent group of experts in the field of drugs and medicines, the WHO provides annual recommendations on substance scheduling to the CND, a policy-making body comprised of 53 UN Member States. This ECDD review includes a balanced consideration of potential for abuse, dependence and harm with therapeutic value. The CND then votes on whether or not the WHO recommendations for placing reviewed substances under international control should be endorsed.

          The 42nd ECDD recommendations included the addition of four synthetic cannabinoids and three synthetic stimulants to Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances given similar action and adverse effects to other substances in this Schedule. These synthetic cannabinoids have been associated with impaired mental status, impaired driving, and fatalities, whereas the included synthetic stimulants have been linked to fatal intoxication. Similarly, two fentanyl analogues, with their opioid-like effects, were brought under Schedule I control (strict control) of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs given similar action and effects to other drugs in this Schedule. Two benzodiazepines including the medicine etizolam were brought under Schedule IV control of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, both of which have been implicated in fatal and non-fatal intoxication and impaired driving. A hallucinogen was also recommended to be brought under control, specifically to Schedule I of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971, based on abuse potential and non-fatal and fatal intoxication. This is the first hallucinogen to be reviewed in many years, suggesting a potential shift in drug trends. For more information on these recommendations, please review the 42nd ECDD meeting report. .  

        In addition, the ECDD conducted a pre-review of several Schedule III opioid preparations, some of which can be accessed as over-the-counter options, such as codeine-based cough syrups, to consider their abuse potential.  The ECDD recommended a critical review be carried out at a later date.

    CND accepts all WHO recommendations on the control of several psychoactive substances from the 42nd ECDD meeting
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    https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/18-03-2020-c-n-d-accepts-all-w-h-o-recommendations-from-42nd-e-c-d-d

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