said Pope François on 7th May 2014 when he received members of the Italian community “San Patrignano”, a non fee charging centre for withdrawal and rehabilitation, and their families.
"40 to 50% of pupils who repeat 8th or 9th grade do so because of having used cannabis the previous year." "Let us not forget either that cannabis and alcohol used together are very damaging."
"Amongst the perils that threaten youth and the entire society today, drugs are in the first place, which is more dangerous as it is less visible ...They spread like an oil stain, they slowly stretch their tentacles from the major cities to the smaller centers, from the richest and most industrialized countries to the Third World."
"A rat which is given cannabis will start drinking alcohol, whereas without cannabis, he will not drink."
"I consider that parents are able to educate their children. [...] Any one is able, most of time, to take responsibility for a child.[...]Parents call upon psychologists for years and pay a lot of money, whereas they usually have the ability within themselves to help their children. I often say to parents: "You have everything in your hands, just look for it. But simply take the time to look at your child."
"Adolescence is a "season in hell" in itself. It is the age of doubt, of self-deprecation, of anxiety, but also the age of authenticity, of the absolute. What is normal is the exaggeration of behavior, of words, of feelings, the outbursts of joy and sadness. The teenager is very susceptible and sensitive to how others perceive him and what they say about him, especially his friends."
"If there was a government that was interested in corrupting its citizens, it would only have to encourage the use of hashish ... hashish belongs to the class of solitary joy, it is for the miserable idler ... You are incapable of work and lack energy for action .. You throw your personality to the four winds of heaven and now you are unable to reassemble and concentrate them ... Hashish is a weapon for suicide".
"Balzac thought, without doubt, that there was no bigger shame nor suffering in life for man than the abdication of his will. I saw him one time at a meeting where there was a question on the prodigious effects of hashish. He listened and questioned with an amusing attention and vivacity ... The way of thinking shocked him greatly, inspite of himself. He was presented with dawamesk, he examined it, smelled it and returned it without touching it. The struggle between his almost childish curiosity and his repugnance at the abdication betrayed itself on his expressive face in a striking manner. The love of dignity prevailed."
Most drugs are stored in the body fats for years. During an exertion, a walk, sport, fear, surprise, stimulation, a bit of fat is burnt and very small quantities of drugs are released into the blood circulation. This will reactivate the effects of the drugs, making the user feel that they want more.
When you consume alcohol and cannabis simultaneously, these products mutually increase their effects. The current practice is to use alcohol and cannabis at the same time. Many young people nowadays use this common method to try to get “stoned”.
Physicians are the first witnesses of drug addiction (See: News or Did you know sections)
No parent would lend his car to his child knowing he/she has not learnt to drive. It would also be unconscionable to let one’s teenager go out without having taught him/her what drugs are. Nowadays availability of these products is such that youth can procure them in all the places they frequent – educational establishments, parties, class dinners, rallies, sport clubs... Parents must inform themselves objectively and scientifically about the products so to educate their children on drugs and provide them with the arguments to refuse them. Let us remember that drug addiction doesn’t just happen to others!
Drugs are not a disease. The best way to stop them is not to take any. Heroin addicts who achieved withdraw admit that complete abstinence is the only solution. They say it themselves : it is more difficult to withdraw from Subutex (substitution drugs) than from heroin…
Member Organization of Make Mothers Matter, granted General Consultative Status by the United Nations.