DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
Introduction
- Concerns regarding the increasing use of drugs and alcohol, especially among the youth.
- The need for proper education and guidance to protect the youth from harmful effects and promote healthy lifestyles.
Commonly Abused Drugs
- Opioids
- These drugs bind to specific opioid receptors in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.
- Example: Heroin (chemically diacetylmorphine), obtained by acetylation of morphine from the poppy plant (Papaver somniferum).
- Heroin is a depressant and slows down bodily functions.
- Cannabinoids
- These chemicals interact with cannabinoid receptors in the brain.
- Natural cannabinoids obtained from the inflorescences of the Cannabis sativa plant.
- Various products produced from cannabis include marijuana, hashish, charas, and ganja.
- These substances affect the cardiovascular system when taken through inhalation or ingestion.
- Coca Alkaloids (Cocaine)
- Cocaine is obtained from the coca plant (Erythroxylum coca) native to South America.
- It interferes with the transport of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
- Cocaine is a potent stimulant affecting the central nervous system, leading to a sense of euphoria and increased energy.
- Excessive dosage can cause hallucinations.
- Hallucinogenic Plants
- Atropa belladona and Datura are plants known for their hallucinogenic properties.
- Some sportspersons are now abusing cannabinoids.
Abuse of Medicinal Drugs
- Drugs like barbiturates, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and similar substances, typically used as medicines for mental illnesses (e.g., depression and insomnia), are often abused.
- Morphine, effective as a sedative and painkiller, is valuable for post-surgery patients.
- Some plants, fruits, and seeds with hallucinogenic properties have been used for centuries in folk medicine, religious ceremonies, and rituals worldwide.
- Drug abuse occurs when these substances are taken for non-medicinal purposes or in amounts and frequencies that impair physical, physiological, or psychological functions.
Smoking and Its Consequences
Introduction
- Tobacco usage, including smoking, chewing, and snuff, has been prevalent for over 400 years.
- Tobacco contains numerous chemical substances, including nicotine, an alkaloid.
- Nicotine’s effects on the body and the associated health risks.
- The prevalence of smoking in society, despite the well-known dangers and warnings on tobacco products.
Nicotine and Its Effects
- Nicotine stimulates the adrenal glands, leading to the release of adrenaline and nor-adrenaline into the bloodstream.
- Adrenaline and nor-adrenaline increase blood pressure and heart rate.
Health Risks
- Smoking is linked to several health issues, including:
- Cancers: Lung, urinary bladder, throat, oral cavity.
- Respiratory Conditions: Bronchitis and emphysema.
- Cardiovascular Diseases: Coronary heart disease.
- Gastric Ulcers.
- Smoking increases carbon monoxide (CO) levels in the blood, reducing the concentration of oxygen carried by hemoglobin.
- This oxygen deficiency is harmful to the body.
Statutory Warnings
- Cigarette packets bear statutory warnings about the health risks associated with smoking.
- Despite these warnings, smoking remains prevalent in society among both the young and old.
Addiction and Help
- Smoking and chewing tobacco are addictive habits.
- Overcoming addiction requires counseling and medical assistance.
- It is crucial for individuals, particularly the youth, to avoid these harmful habits.
Adolescence and Drug/Alcohol Abuse
Introduction
- Adolescence is a transitional period during which a child matures in terms of attitudes and beliefs to participate effectively in society.
- It typically spans from 12 to 18 years of age, serving as a bridge between childhood and adulthood.
- Adolescence is marked by biological and behavioral changes and is a vulnerable phase of mental and psychological development.
Causes of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Adolescents
- Curiosity, the need for adventure and excitement, and experimentation are common motivations for drug and alcohol use among youngsters.
- A child’s natural curiosity drives them to experiment, and this is often complicated by perceived benefits of alcohol or drug use.
- Initial use may be driven by curiosity or experimentation, but later, these substances may be used as a coping mechanism to avoid problems.
- Academic and examination stress has become a significant factor in motivating youngsters to try alcohol and drugs.
- The perception among youth that using drugs or alcohol is “cool” or progressive contributes to the adoption of these habits.
- Media, including television, movies, newspapers, and the internet, often promote this perception.
- Other factors associated with drug and alcohol abuse in adolescents include unstable or unsupportive family structures and peer pressure.
Addiction and Dependence
Addiction
- Drug and alcohol use is often repeated due to perceived benefits.
- Addiction is a psychological attachment to the effects of drugs and alcohol, such as euphoria and temporary well-being.
- It drives people to use these substances even when not needed or when their use is self-destructive.
- Repeated drug use leads to an increased tolerance level of receptors in the body.
- Tolerance means the receptors respond only to higher doses of drugs or alcohol, leading to greater intake and addiction.
- It’s essential to note that even one-time drug use can be a precursor to addiction.
Dependence
- Dependence is the body’s tendency to exhibit withdrawal symptoms when regular doses of drugs or alcohol are abruptly discontinued.
- Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, shakiness, nausea, sweating, and can be relieved by resuming substance use.
- In some cases, withdrawal symptoms can be severe and life-threatening, requiring medical supervision.
- Dependence often leads individuals to ignore social norms and pursue funds to satisfy their needs, resulting in social adjustment problems.
Effects of Drug/Alcohol Abuse
- Immediate adverse effects of drug and alcohol abuse include reckless behavior, vandalism, and violence.
- Excessive drug doses can lead to coma and death due to respiratory failure, heart failure, or cerebral hemorrhage.
- Combining drugs with alcohol often results in overdosing and even death.
- Warning signs of abuse among youth include a drop in academic performance, unexplained absence from school/college, lack of personal hygiene, withdrawal, isolation, depression, fatigue, aggressive behavior, deteriorating relationships with family and friends, loss of interest in hobbies, changes in sleeping and eating habits, and weight fluctuations.
- Drug/alcohol abusers may turn to theft to fund their habits, causing mental and financial distress to their family and friends.
- Intravenous drug users are at a high risk of infections like AIDS and Hepatitis B when sharing needles and syringes. These diseases can be transmitted through sexual contact or infected blood.
- Alcohol use during adolescence may lead to heavy drinking in adulthood.
- Chronic drug and alcohol use damages the nervous system and liver (cirrhosis).
- Use during pregnancy can adversely affect the fetus.
- Some sportspersons misuse drugs to enhance performance, including narcotic analgesics, anabolic steroids, diuretics, and hormones.
- The side effects of using anabolic steroids include masculinization, increased aggressiveness, mood swings, depression, abnormal menstrual cycles, excessive hair growth, clitoris enlargement, deepening of the voice (in females).
- In males, side effects include acne, testicle size reduction, decreased sperm production, kidney and liver dysfunction, breast enlargement, premature baldness, and prostate gland enlargement.
- Prolonged use can result in permanent effects, such as stunted growth in adolescents.
Prevention and Control
The prevention and control of drug and alcohol abuse, particularly among adolescents, is essential. Here are some measures that can be taken to address this issue:
Avoid Undue Peer Pressure:
- Recognize that every child has their own unique choices and personality.
- Avoid pushing children beyond their threshold limits, whether it’s related to studies, sports, or other activities.
- Respect their choices and individuality.
Education and Counselling:
- Educate and counsel adolescents to cope with problems, stresses, and life’s disappointments.
- Encourage them to accept failures as a part of life and learn from them.
- Channelize their energy into healthy pursuits such as sports, reading, music, yoga, and extracurricular activities.
Seeking Help from Parents and Peers:
- Encourage adolescents to seek help from their parents and peers when facing difficulties.
- Parents and peers can provide guidance, support, and a listening ear.
- Trusted friends can also be a valuable source of assistance and emotional support.
Looking for Danger Signs:
- Parents, teachers, and friends should be vigilant and look for potential danger signs such as changes in behavior, academic performance, or social interactions.
- If someone is suspected of using drugs or alcohol, this should be brought to the attention of parents or teachers promptly.
- Identifying these signs early can help diagnose the problem and its underlying causes.
Seeking Professional and Medical Help:
- Highly qualified professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and addiction specialists, can provide valuable assistance.
- There are de-addiction and rehabilitation programs available to help individuals struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
- With professional help and their own determination, affected individuals can overcome substance abuse and lead healthy lives.
