H O O K E D - The Dark Side of Parties

The Dark Side of Parties

Written by Varshaa Negi

Let us paint a picture - you are invited to a party with all your friends. You look gorgeous! There is music, alcohol…you name it, they have it!

How wild do you suppose you can afford to get? Does partying necessarily mean losing consciousness? Can trusting other people with your drink be a choice, in this day and age of Rohypnol or 'Roofies'? Are you afraid of people thinking that you are un-cool if you said 'No'? If being cautious means being safe, then maybe we need to rethink our definitions of cool.

The picture is no longer as rosy as it was! Now, take a road trip with hooked down the dark side of parties.

Binge Drinking

       Scientifically defined, Binge Drinking is having five or more drinks for men and four or more for women per occasion.

        Socially, it’s the partying lifestyle. Binge drinking of young people may be related to an environment that appears to support heavy drinking in terms of peer pressure, heavy marketing, availability and low prices of alcohol as compared to 5 years ago.

        However, binge drinking is known to have excruciating repercussions - medical, personal and social. From severe brain damage, arteriosclerosis, liver cirrhosis, and alcoholism, binge drinking has agonizing consequences in the long run.

        If you are a frequent binge drinker, it's high time you should reconsider your lifestyle. There isn’t much achievement in passing out on your own puke or being oblivious of how and where you were lying on the previous night. There is no satisfaction in having throbbing headaches that come with hangovers, and there is absolutely no proof that you are better than the rest if you can hold your liquor. You would have been better off, had you known your tolerance and maintained your sobriety.

Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is the non-therapeutic or non-medical use of drugs. The general party drugs in the world today include Ecstasy, LSD (LySergic acid Diethylamide), special K (Ketamine), tobacco, cocaine, speed, marijuana and GHB (Gamma-HydroxyButyric Acid).

No doubt, drugs can give you a high if you want. However, drugs are more capable of giving you brain damage and other CNS (Central Nervous System)-related dangerous, incurable illnesses. And I'm not even talking about addiction and social damage. Drugs are a curse to society and people whom they affect. Partying can be done without endangering lives.

Sexual Violence

Most friendships, acquaintances, and dates never lead to violence. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens. When forced sex occurs between two people who already know each other, it is known as date rape, acquaintance rape or hidden rape. In fact, about half of all people who are raped know the person who attacked them. 7% to 10% of rape victims are male, and some of these might be coupled with drug rape.

Drug rape, one of the fastest growing crimes in the world is usually committed by spiking a drink to incapacitate a person and take advantage of the effect the drug has on them. The statistics are horrifying - 54% of the victims are drugged by alcohol and 47% of them are drugged in a pub or club, with 11% of them - men.

        Presently, there are many rape drugs, amongst others; GHB (Gamma-HydroxyButyric Acid), Valium, Tamazepan and Rohypnol. These are mostly clear, odourless and tasteless. The effects depend on dosage, but one may feel intoxicated, drowsy, nauseous and even fall unconscious.

        This may also happen very quickly (within 30 minutes) and can last for up to 6 to 8 hours. Mixing the drugs with alcohol increases the chance of an overdose and there is a risk of them proving fatal.

        The most common date rape drug is alcohol.

        Try and know your limits so you can be careful and look out for your mates. Think before you accept a drink. Do not leave your drink unattended. Open cans and bottles yourself. If you start to feel really drunk when you shouldn’t, turn to a trusted friend. Don't spend time alone with someone who makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable. Consider very carefully whether you should leave with someone you have just met. All these can happen to men as well as women.

        Safe partying is actually possible and fun at the same time. If friends or the group you are with are drinking or taking drugs, you might feel pressured to drink more than you feel comfortable with or take the same drug as them.

        But remember, you are the only one who knows your own limit. If someone else is drunk, as a guide, it is a good idea to treat someone as you would like to be treated if you were in the same position.

Let us paint another picture now - you are invited to a party with all your friends. You look gorgeous! There is music, alcohol…you name it, they have it!

Then you walk out after having the greatest time of your life. You are sober, contented, and the picture is rosy again. hooked

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

Comments

Write Comment
Name: Guest
Title:
Comment:

< Prev		Next >