Drugs Permanently Damage Brain Say Experts
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - The effect of drug abuse on the society is widely known. But the people who abuse them are mostly ignorant of its effect on the body.

Longer consumption of amphetamine, a drug commonly abused by addicts in this country, can cause a person to suffer from mental illness.

Health experts said amphetamine and other forms of synthetic drugs like syabu and ecstasy, which are listed as dangerous drugs, attack the brain and stimulate a high level of physical activity and eventually cause complications for the heart and breathing system.

Based on a study, they said an overdose on amphetamine could cause an increase in anxiety, nervousness and pressure.

They said these drugs also cause depression and violent behaviour. "Continuous consumption of amphetamine and synthetic drugs could result in mental illness which may be permanent," they said.

They called for people, especially youths, to appreciate and love the greatest gift given by God to them - the brain.

Some 609 drug cases were reported last year compared to 701 in 2003, a 13 per cent drop over the previous year.

Of the 609 cases, 514 drug offenders were males while the rest were females. Thirteen of them were aged 15 or below.

Some 241 of them were aged 31 and above and 290 of them were repeat offenders while 31 were new ones, which suggested that relapses are common amongst drug addicts here.

The total number comprised of 500 citizens, 58 permanent residents, 48 foreigners and three stateless.

Some 377 offenders were unemployed, 82 of them working for the government, 87 from the private sector and 46 self-employed.

Some 17 students were also arrested for drug offences last year compared to 28 in 2003. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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