Drug Abuse: Problems and Solutions

Drug abuse has been spread in many countries. Billions of dollars are spent internationally preventing наркомания, treating addicts, and fighting преступление, связанное с наркотиками. Although drugs threaten many страны (сообщества), their effects can also be combated успешно.

Drug abuse causes многочисленные проблемы for countries and communities. The medical and психологические эффекты (последствия) are very obvious. Наркоманы cannot function as normal члены общества. They neglect or abuse their families, and eventually require дорогое лечение or hospitalization. Huge полицейские ресурсы are needed to fight контрабанда and dealing. Криминальные группировки and mafia underworlds develop with the money from drugs.

However, the угроза (зло) of drugs can be fought. Education is the first battle. Children need to be told at home and in school about наркотики. People need осознавать последствия so that they can make avoid this проблема. A second подход is to increase police manpower and powers to stop наркодилеры and to enforce the закон. However, the main цель should be the user. Families and адвокат (поверенный) need to talk to children and people at risk. Parents need to look after their children and help them. Jobs are needed to give people a role in society.

В заключение, although the problem of drugs may seem impossible to eliminate, there are some important шаги that can be taken to weaken the влияние наркотиков on society. The опасность from drugs is too great to ignore.

Exercise 14. Scan Text 4 and comment on the following:

- Drug abuse has become a serious problem in our society.

- What are the causes of this and what are some solutions?

Exercise 15. Give the summary of the text above.

Talking Points

Exercise 16. Ask and answer with a partner.

 

1. Is overcoming drug abuse possible without professional assistance?

2. What is the specific prevalence of drug abuse?

3. What are negative influences of substance abuse among young people?

4. Where can teenagers get information about the influence of drugs: via the mass media, social clubs, rehabilitation centres or schools?

Exercise 17. Present your own views on the following:

Ø Health risks of drug abuse.

Ø Concerns of the countries for potential problems of drug abusing in the future.

Ø The role of the governments in solving this problem.

Ø The drug problem in sport.

Exercise 18. In class, discuss the following:

You are attending the conference on drug abuse. Present some of your solutions. Prepare a plan of action to combat drug-taking in sport. Use the information from the text:

 

Ex-Olympics Chief Wants to ‘Go Soft’ on Drugs

Juan Antonio Samaranch, the former president of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) has angered many British sportsmen, sportswomen, and sports administrators. In an interview with a Spanish newspaper, he demanded that some performance-enhancing drugs be legalized in sport. In his opinion, only drugs which harm health need to be banned.

Cycling has one of the worst reputations for drug abuse in sport.

Many officials and cyclists really believe that using certain drugs is no different from having a special diet. So it is perhaps not surprising that the directors of Spain’s top two cycling teams agreed with Mr. Samaranch’s point of view, saying that such a decision would improve the image of their sport.

However, Mr. Samaranch’s comments upset British experts, who have been asking for stricter controls, fearing that more freedom would make the current problems even worse. Sir Arthur Gold, an anti-doping campaigner, and the president of the Amateur Athletic Association, called Mr. Samaranch’s comments ‘unwise’.

Craig Reedie, the chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) said that the BOA was opposed to the use of all performance-enhancing drugs, whether they can harm an athlete’s health or not.

The former British world-record holders Steve Oven and Steve Cram also spoke out against Mr. Samaranch’s views. Mr. Oven asked, “How do you define dangerous? Is it when someone dies?”

Meanwhile, a leading British distance runner, Jon Brown, said that the banned performance-enhancing drug EPO was being used as much in his own sport as in cycling.

As a result of the controversy, the IOC announced a special conference in Lausanne to review the fight against doping in sport.

Exercise 19. Make notes on the text. Speak on the following:

 

1. Mr. Samaranch’s opinion.
2. People who support his opinion.
3. Reasons for their support.
4. People who disagree with Mr. Samaranch.
5. Reasons for their disagreement.
6. Further action suggested.

 

Focus on Grammar

 

Exercise 20. Change the following sentences into Indirect Speech.

Start with: “The passenger said…”

1. “All baggage from flight number 790 has already arrived, but my luggage isn’t there”.

2. “My luggage was damaged during unloading”.

3. “My suitcase is damaged”.

4. “The suitcase opened and the things fell out”.

5. “The baggage check has been torn off my suitcase”.

6. “I’ve lost my baggage claim check”.

7. “I have only one bag (briefcase, attaché case) to carry on”.

8. “There are no prohibited things in my luggage”.

9. “I haven’t anything liable for duty”.

10. “I have only my personal belongings”.

11. “These are for my personal use”.

12. “I’ve got a small bottle of perfume”.

Exercise 21. Change the following questions into Indirect Speech.

Start with: “The passenger asked…”

1. “Where can I get a baggage cart?”

2. “I’ve got... dollars. Must I show that amount on the declaration?”

3. “Do I have to pay duty on these things?”

4. “Which bus do I take from the airport to the centre of the city?”

5. “Can I make a phone call from here to another city?”

6. “I’ve left my raincoat (hat, briefcase, etc.) on the plane. How can I get it?”

7. “To which conveyor will the baggage from flight number 572 come?”

8. “Who can I see about it?”

9. “Where’s the baggage claim area?”

10. “Should I get on the red or green line?”

11. “Where should I put my suitcase?”

12. “Can I cash travellers’ checks?”

Exercise 22. Change the sentences into Indirect Speech.

1. Jake said, “Does the government in Argentina impose any regulations on foreign trade?”

2. I asked Linda, “Do the government regulations discourage foreign trade?”

3. I asked the government official, “How many natives do we have to have in our Board of Directors?”

4. Norman asked, “Do the locals have the controlling interest?”

5. I asked the manager, “Do we have to file a plan and indicate whom we are going to fire?”

6. I asked the Customs officer, “What is to be shown at the departure gate?”

7. We asked the airport official, “Where can we get our baggage?”

Exercise 23. Fill in the gaps with one of the introductory verbs from the box below in Past Simple:

agree, invite, warn, accuse, boast, complain, insist, explain, exclaim, remind, suggest, promise

1. “Will you come to the ball?” he said to her. He _______ her to go to the ball.

2. “I’m the best student of the Customs Academy,” he said. He _______ about being the best student of the Customs Academy.

3. “Yes, I’ll lend you some money,” he said to Jane. He ______ to lend Jane some money.

4. “What a beautiful dress she is wearing!” he said. He ______ that she was wearing a beautiful dress.

5. “He never buys me flowers,” she said. She ______ that he never bought her flowers.

6. “Let’s go for a picnic,” he said. He ______ going for a picnic.

7. “You stole the money,” Tom said to Jim. Tom ______ Jim of stealing the money.

8. “Don’t forget to hang out the washing,” she said to me. She ______ me to hang out the washing.

9. “I promise I’ll write to you,” she said to him. She _______ to write to him.

10. “You must finish the report,” she said to him. She ______ on finishing the report.

11. “Would you like to spend the weekend with us?” They ________ her to spend the weekend with them.

Exercise 24. Change Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.

 

1. The manager said, “We will arrange a meeting on Friday”.

2. I said, “They won’t come to our office till 12 p.m. today”.

3. Jake said, “I will help you to work on this new software”.

4. The boss said to the manager, “Examine the market, please”.

5. I said to John, “Try to contact the Sales Department”.

6. Jack said to me, “Don’t sign this agreement”.

7. The supplier said to the office director, “Pay in advance”.

Exercise 25. Change Direct Speech into Indirect Speech.

Start with: “The passenger said (asked)…”

1. “I have to pass through pre-flight formalities”.

2. “Where does the airport bus leave from?”

3. “Where is the bus stop?”

4. “I will register my ticket as soon as I arrive at the airport”.

5. “Where can I get a taxi?”

6. “Can I get to the city from here by subway?”

7. “I am going to buy some post cards”.

8. “Which way is to gate number 7?”

9. “Where is the baggage check room?”

10. “I haven’t got any dutiable articles”.