DRUG ABUSE, a devastating phenomenon.

What Is Drug?

A drug is any substance other than food, that when inhaled , injected , smoked, consumed , absorbed via a patch on the skin or dissolved under the tongue causes a physiological change in the body.


What is Drug or substance abuse ?

According to World Health Organization, "Substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs."


Psychoactive drugs

Psychoactive drugs are chemical substances that affect the function of the central nervous system , altering perception , mood or consciousness.


Effects of psychoactive drugs

Psychoactive substance use can lead to dependence syndrome - 
1. a strong desire to take the drug, 
2. difficulties in controlling its use, 
3. persisting in its use despite harmful consequences, 
4. a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities and obligations, 
5. increased tolerance,
6. physical withdrawal state.


Types of psychoactive drug

Most psychoactive drugs fall into the categories of stimulants,
depressants, opiates and hallucinogens. All these types of drugs are addictive, induce dependence and have different effects on the human brain and body.

1. Stimulants
2. Depressants
3. Opiates and Opioids
4. Hallucinogens 
5. Inhalants 

STIMULANTS : Stimulants act on the central nervous system and are associated with feelings of extreme well-being, increased mental and motor activity. Example include cocaine, crack cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy. 

DEPRESSANTS : Depressants are chemicals that slow down the central nervous system and suppress brain activity causing relief from anxiety. Example include depressants,cannabis, barbiturates and benzodiazepines (e.g. valium, temazepam).

OPIATES and OPIOIDS : Opiate and opioid drugs provide pain relief, euphoria, sedation and in increasing doses induce coma. Examples include heroin, morphine, opium,  methadone, dipipanone and pethidine.

HALLUCINOGENS :  Hallucinogens cause changes in a person's perception of reality. Example include cannabis, LSD, ecstasy and psilocybin (magic mushrooms).

INHALANTS : Inhalants are a broad range of intoxicative drugs whose gases or volatile vapors are breathed in via the nose or mouth. Examples include nitrous oxide, methane from septic tank. 


Signs of Drug Addiction

1. Change in behaviour or personality 
2. Withdrawn, irritable, anxious, apathetic look
3. Change in eating habits
4. Neglecting of  hygiene and appearance
5.  Loss of interest in activities which they used to enjoy
6.  Socialization with a different set of friends
7. Running into financial difficulties
8.  Getting into trouble with the law


Withdrawal Symptoms

Emotional and physical depression
Agitation, anger, and aggression
Insomnia
Inability to feel pleasure
Severe lack of energy
Intense cravings
Lethargy
Confusion
Paranoia
Suicidal thoughts
Sexual dysfunction
Cognitive impairment associated with sleep dysfunction
Delayed depression
Suicidal thoughts


Solutions to Drug abuse

1. Creation of awareness and campaigns. 
2. Counselling and treatment. 
3. Communication between parents and children. 
4. Close family relationships. 
5.  Good environment and leisure time. 

6. Cinical evaluation and intake.
7. Medically supervised detoxification
8. Medically-assisted treatment.
9. Recovery skills training and relapse prevention.


References

DrugAbuse.com: Trusted Resources for Substance Abuse and
Addiction Treatment. 
Www.drugabuse.com/library/drug-abuse-problems/

Castle Craig Hospital 2016
www.castlecraig.co.uk/resources/drugs

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inhalant
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug

World Health Organization 
www.who.int/topics/substance_abuse/en/

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes
https://www.unodc.org/drugs/en/get-the-facts/types-of-drugs.html


As compiled by
Ahmed Adeshina A.
(aka acetyl)
A medical student,
Univeristy of Ilorin,
Ilorin, Kwara state.