Centre For Youth Support Against Drug Abuse

17/06/2025

SMOKING AND PREGNANCY
Can smoking affect my ability to have a child?
Many people understand the effects of smoking that it increases the risk for heart, vascular, and lung diseases. Very few if any do realize that smoking can also lead to problems with fertility not only in women but in both men and women. Erectile dysfunction (ED) and pregnancy complication rates are also increased with smoking.
Will smoking affect my eggs or s***m?
The chemicals found in cigarette smoke (such as ni****ne, cyanide, and carbon monoxide) speed up the rate at which eggs are lost with unfortunate news being that once eggs die off, they cannot regenerate or be replaced. This eventuary leads to menopause occurring 1 to 4 years earlier in women who smoke (compared with non-smokers). Male smokers are not spared as they can suffer decreased s***m quality with lower counts (numbers of s***m) and motility (s***m’s ability to move) and increased numbers of structurally deformed -s***m. Finally, smoking might also decrease the s***m’s ability to fertilize eggs.
How can smoking impact my ability to conceive?
Women who smoke do not conceive as efficiently as Non-smokers, note the word “efficiently.” Infertility rates in both male and female smokers are about double that in non-smokers. The risk for fertility problems is directly proportional to the number of ci******es smoked per day. Even fertility treatments such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) may not be able to fully overcome effects of smoking on fertility. Female smokers have fewer viable eggs because smoking damages the genetic material in eggs and structural defects in s***m, offspring birth-defect rates and miscarriage are prevalent among patients who smoke. Even smokeless to***co also leads to increased miscarriage rates. Females who smoke are more likely to conceive genetically affected children such as those affected by Down syndrome than non-smoking counter-part mothers. Ectopic pregnancies and labor that starts before intended time also occur more often among female smokers.
Can smoking affect my children?
Males whose mothers smoked half a pack of ci******es (or more) a day have lower s***m counts. Smoking during pregnancy also can lead to growth restriction of the fetus before birth leading to low birth weight. Unfortunately, children born with lower-than- expected birth weights are at higher risk for medical problems later in life (such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease). In addition, children whose parents smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and for developing asthma.
I don’t smoke but my partner does. Could this secondhand smoke affect my fertility?
Females exposed to secondhand smoke can suffer all the above health risks. If one stops smoking, the chances for conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy improves with complications decreasing more if the person stopped smoking before getting pregnat but the decrease of the egg supply cannot be reversed.
Involve your health-care provider or support group if you are planning to quit smoking as this has proved to be the most successful way.
Why smoke???

15/06/2025

Teaching children to say no to drug and substance abuse whilst young so that even when they grow up they shall not depart from this truth.

14/06/2025

TOBACO AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
Smoking including va**ng during the adolescent years, a period during which there is significant brain growth has serious long-term bad effects on its development. During this time the brain develops its neuronal networks (similar to wiring of a house). The circuits affected during this period may consequently lead to disruption of formation of circuits responsible for attention. When one has lost attention there will be failure in getting organized and priotizing, poor time management skills, problems focusing on a task, problems on multitasking, too much activity or restlessness, low frustration tolerance and poor planning.
Another circuit pathway damaged by is that of memory. The person may end up asking the same thing many times, pay fail to follow a simple process after doing it for many times, forgetting common words when talking as well as mixing up words for example, bed instead of table.
In addition to the above the child may develop learning problems. When one has learning problems leading and writing becomes difficult, does not easily tell time, and trouble following directions and problems with solving mathematics.
Long-term consequences of to***co smoking may include; cognitive impairment, high chances of becoming addicted, developing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
In conclusion, smoking and va**ng during adolescent age is very dangerous to the development of the brain as it negatively affects with long-lasting impacts on cognitive function, mental health and risk of addiction.

13/06/2025

Today Karonga primary school pupils were previllaged by a presentation from CYSADA which has taken a step further by engaging primary school pupils in an awareness campaign titled, " STOP DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BEFORE IT STARTS."

The vision the young ones to full awareness of dangers accompanied by taking drugs worse still when their brain have not fully matured which occurs around 25 years of age. This may lead to structural and or functional damage. The resultant effects are; loss of memory, loss motivation, smaller brain just to mention but a few.

12/06/2025

Someone sent a question to my inbox asking if it possible to follow all the prevention measures but still end with a child misbehaving?

The answer is yes. To me such a parent or guardian still deserves a credit for doing the right things. The child grows to an age where s/he makes independent decisions.

Isaiah 5 verses 4 says, " What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?

The best thing the farmer gave it all. Let me encourage everyone to give it all and hoping for the best rather than regretting to have not gave it all.

04/06/2025

REDEEMING THE NATION’S FUTURE BEFORE DAMAGE IS DONE
Today’s youths are tomorrow’s leaders and we can only be sure of the type of future of our nation if we try and invest in today’s youth. How are they being prepared for tomorrow? This will be achieved by protecting their minds from being exposed to harmful stuff such as drugs and substance abuse.
Proverbs 4:23 say; “Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” This verse is usually paraphrased as “guard your mind” as the heart is used in the bible to represent the mind as the source of one’s actions and ultimately determine the direction of one’s life. God did His part of physical protection of our mind (brain) which is the source of our thinking, consciousness and feeling by covering it with a skull which is one of the strongest parts that will be found still existing in the soil year later after one’s death.
This is why to redeem the mind of the youths which is future of the nations there is need to protect their brain from anything that may derange its structural and/or psychological formation such as drug and substance abuse. This takes us to how drug and substance abuse may cause aforementioned derangements especially when taken by the youth.
At adolescent age the brain is still growing therefore, drugs as per their nature changing body functions, significantly impacts brain development by interfering with structural formation of neural pathways and consequently, leading to potential long- term cognitive and behavioral challenges. This affects many areas of brain function including the part central to crucial decision-making and self-control.
Substance use may change brain structure and function as it matures for example, leading to decrease in volume and deranged stimulation during cognitive activities.
In addition, drugs disrupts the concentration of the fluids that transmit information through the nervous system. This alters the feedback mechanism resulting into addiction and change perception of pleasure.
It may also reduce the plasticity of the brain. This makes it difficult for the brain to adapt and learn in times of unfamiliar conditions.
When the youth has abused the drug for a long-term period, it results into impairment of memory, attention and executive function hence, affecting academic performance as well as daily life.
This shows that we really have to guard our minds as we help them to guard theirs as well.

03/06/2025

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03/06/2025

REDEEMING CHILDREN FROM DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BEFORE IT STARTS

The world today is full of effects of drug and substance abuse which seems to have been left unchecked. How is it that the children from our own homes are abusing the drugs? Where from did they learn about this? Where did we go wrong, and many questions are coming from parents and guardians. May be we are surprised with the fruits of a tree we never took care of or misplaced focus. Hope is here, you can redeem the wasted opportunity.
Redeeming means to rescue or save from confinement or danger by giving what is demanded or necessary. Do we have the ransom to pay for our children to prevent or redeem them from drug and substance abuse? Centre for Youth Support Against Drug Abuse (CYSADA) is the answer.

Ephesians (5 v 15-16) reads; 15 see then that you walk circumspectly (wisely) not as fools but as wise. 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Paul did not mean we can re-live the past but after realizing what we have been doing wrong in our Christian life, we should change for the better and forever. In that way time has been redeemed. In similar manner after realizing that we have not done well with our children in the past that has led them astray into drug and substance abuse we should be able to redeem them from the situation by giving them our time and information about drugs and substance abuse beforehand to prevent, so that when they meet abusers they should have answers at the tips of their fingers. While for those already attacked to reclaim them from the way of destruction they have started. This wisdom which is the ability to use knowledge and experience to make good judgment and decision is attained through life experience and with mistakes happening learning takes place. Therefore, realizing that we have not done well in informing our children in readiness for drug and substance abuse in the past, now and now not tomorrow is the time. Instill in them the vision that you have for them so that instead of them diverting their attention to drugs they should be building this vision as the saying goes, where there is no vision people perish. The engagement should be continuous and two way where questions and answers are involved rather than one way.

It is possible to redeem children from drug and substance abuse even before it starts.

28/05/2025

STOP MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS BEFORE IT STARTS THROUGH JOURNALING
One of cost effective way of improving one’s mental health is through journaling. Let me be quick to point out that the act of getting organized and put down what one is thinking is of paramount benefit to one’s mental, emotional and even spiritual wellbeing. Journaling can improve all areas of your life in all circumstances, I encourage you to just take a step and see the results. Journaling does not remove the circumstances one is going through but changes the way life is viewed. Anne Frank once said, “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” There are a number of ways in which journaling can improve one’s life.
Reflection on Life
The world today is too busy that one has little or no time to reflect on what is going on and how certain things have changed. However, journaling allows one to reflect on what has been going on in the recent past days, weeks and months. Consequently, this time of breaking and reflecting what has been happening has been found to be of beneficial to one’s strength in emotional and mental health.
Process emotions
Emotions are undeniably powerful and subjective and therefore they can influence in making wonderful decisions and sometimes terrible ones. Hence, need to be handled with sober mind. It is at this point where journaling allows one to slow down and consider the emotions from a “third party” perspective. Instead of thinking through at once, journaling allows one to walk through, find source and decide where to go from there.

Explore New Ideas
When journaling new Ideas always pop in the minds. These may be ideas about new businesses or improving the old business. May be personal development such as persuing further education or a solution to an existing problem.
Consider other Perspectives
The moment a person stops to think about one’s emotions, thoughts and perceptions, in reality it give the person chance to consider other perspectives as too. For example, it there was an argument between family members; the moment one starts journaling it’s likely to start thinking the other person perspective. Sometimes it goes all the way to the point of thinking as a third party getting oneself out of the equation. This has an advantage to one mental health.
Establishing Goals
When journaling has been done over a long period, go back and track them. This has usually helped people to establish their own long-term goals and strive to achieve them. Most if not all successful people started by setting their goals and this includes writing them down. Rarely, are goals achieved if not written down. Journals helps one to have a chance of looking back and seeing what has been achieved. This helps one to be focused at the same time improving one’s mental health.
Let me say that journaling does not need to be done as a therapy to mental health much as it help one with the problem. Let this be done by everyone regardless of age as it will prevent mental health problems whilst helping one to establish themselves.

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24/05/2025

SUPPORTING OLDER ADULT’S MENTAL HEALTH
It is undeniable fact that as people age they also experience life changes that have an impact on mental health. These may present differently; such as through changes in what one likes as well as energy level. It is encouraged that we enhance open conversation about mental health because it allows adults to be willing to seek mental health support. Eventually, this improves their quality of life , independence and social connections as they meet their mates whilst seeking help. In addition, spending more time with the adults strengthens meaningful connections and well-being.

03/03/2021

Being genuine is all about being honest in your thoughts and actions. A genuine person always feel that the world is good because they see the world with the eyes of truth and honesty.

Most of the times, if we are true, we come across similar kind of people but at times we do encounter those are are unkind and dishonest. Even though we realise that they are possibly taking an advantage, we still keep helping them. It is because sometimes it is hard for a genuine person to believe that dishonest people exist and at other times they believe their actions might change them. We should not stop being real just because we come across those who are not but we also must never let someone take an undue advantage of us.

Be true, be real and be genuine. There is no need to change yourself for others, there is only need to motivate them to be real too.

Dr Bhawna Gautam

27/07/2020

Early use of drugs increases a person's chances of becoming addicted. Remember, drugs change the brain—and this can lead to addiction and other serious problems. So, preventing early use of drugs or alcohol may go a long way in reducing these risks.