DRUGS — WAY OFF COURSE

Today, there is a threat to all the seafarers both officers and ratings. That threat is illegal drug dealing. If you work at sea, your risk of contact with drug dealers once you come ashore is high. You are under threat. This is because drug dealers see officers and ratings both as possible customers and possible smugglers. If you become involved as either a customer or a smuggler, you are in trouble. You are staring a criminal career.

You risk not only your own livelihood but you can call severe difficulties for the ship and your colleagues. These are several different groups of the psycholeptic drugs. One is the cannabis group. Cannabis also known as marijuana or hashish can be sold either as the leaves of the cannabis plant or as a more concentrated residue. The leaves are usually smoked either on their own in a pipe or mixed with tobacco.

The resin is also usually smoked, often mixed with tobacco. Using this drug can lead to laughing without apparent reason. Other effects include changes in perception of space and time, reduced learning ability and memory. Your reflexes are slowed down. Taking this drug leads to increased risk of infection in the nose, mouth and lungs. It can aggravate or cause heart and lung condition such as asthma; in both men and women it affects sexual organs, interfering with sperm and egg production...