Prosecutors in Dubai say the average age of drug addiction in the UAE is now between 14 and 20 years old, based on what they are witnessing.
Officials said social media platforms are fuelling teenage drug abuse, with many hooked on illegal substances including tramadol, Captagon, magic mushrooms and hash, among others.
They are urging parents to be extra vigilant in monitoring their children's online activities and engaging in open conversations about the risks associated with drug use.
Abdullah Al Raisi, assistant chief prosecutor at the Anti Narcotics Department at Dubai Public Prosecution, called the trend a "grave issue".
"The average age of addiction is between 14 and 20 years old based on our investigations in cases," he said at a public lecture held in Dubai last week.
"This is a grave issue that we must address promptly."
Teenagers like to explore new things including illegal drugs, thinking one time consumption will not turn them into addicts, said Mr Al Raisi.
"It is rare to see someone trying a drug once. Usually, people become drug addicts without noticing," he added.
Mohammed Al Hammad, attorney general at Deira Prosecution in Dubai, noted that it was hard to monitor teenagers online, but that parents should be extra vigilant.
"It becomes harder to monitor the teenagers in the digital era as more youngsters are exploring social media platforms and meeting new friends who might lure them into trying illegal drugs," he said.
"They are what we call a coincident friend, who might show up in the teen's life for 10 minutes through social media and then have a devastating impact."
Seeking help
A 36-year-old Emirati man who consumed a variety of illegal substances from the age of 14, said that the National Rehabilitation Centre in Abu Dhabi helped him to recover from a 16-year drug addiction.
"I was curious and wanted to explore consuming drugs due to the influence of bad friends," he told The National.
"I went to the rehab centre asking for treatment after sustained physical and mental risks due to addiction. My family also suffered because of that."
The former addict, who identified himself only as MS, said that after a long course of treatment, he became an active member at the rehab centre to help newcomers.
"It is important to have a stable family and educate teenagers about the dangers of illegal drugs and what they should do if someone speaks to them about drugs," he said.
"Parents should share their time with their children in sport and social activities."
Harrowing consequences
A mother in the UAE recalled the "sheer terror" she felt when she discovered that her 14-year-old son was found unconscious on the street.
The woman, originally from Syria and who wanted to remain anonymous, said that her son had fallen into the wrong crowd and was allegedly encouraged to experiment with hash, an illegal drug he had purchased from someone on Instagram.
"I could never have imagined being told about my 14-year-old son being found unconscious near a mosque in Sharjah," she told The National.
"The sheer terror I felt in that moment is indescribable. My brother called me that morning and told me my son had called him in a vague and tired voice at around 4am that day asking for help."
Her son was not making much sense, but the brother managed to understand enough to locate him.
"What I later found out shocked me even more. My son had been under police surveillance for some time," she said.
She said the officers were incredibly supportive, and thanked them for their intervention. Officers were also able to locate the drug dealer following the son's co-operation.
The four days her son spent in prison was a life-altering experience for him, she said.
"He has become more cautious about who he associates with, both online and in the real world," she added.
"While those days were harrowing for all of us, they served as a pivotal turning point for my son. We had many open conversations about the consequences of his actions, not just legally but also how it impacts his future and his family."
Captagon seizures – in pictures
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
UAE v IRELAND
All matches start at 10am, and will be played in Abu Dhabi
1st ODI, Friday, January 8
2nd ODI, Sunday, January 10
3rd ODI, Tuesday, January 12
4th ODI, Thursday, January 14
ARGYLLE
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
Understand What Black Is
The Last Poets
(Studio Rockers)
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
Arrogate's winning run
1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016
2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016
3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016
4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016
5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016
6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017
7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Jawan
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
West Asia rugby, season 2017/18 - Roll of Honour
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
