Drug Abuse, Addiction, and Prevention

Drug  

A drug is any substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology or psychology when consumed, also is a chemical substance, typically of known structure, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a biological effect.

Method of consumption

Consumption of drugs can be through inhalation, injection, smoking, ingestion, absorption through a patch on the skin, or dissolution under the tongue.

Inhalation -   is the act of blowing something into a body cavity . example gas,vapour etc.

Injection -  is a method of introducing a drug into the bloodstream via a hollow hypodermic needle and a syringe, which is pierced through the skin into the body

Smoking -  is a practice in which a substance is burned and the resulting smoke breathed in to be tasted and absorbed into the bloodstream

Ingestion -is the consumption of a substance by an organism. In animals, it normally accomplished by taking in the substance through the mouth into the gastrointestinal tract, such as through eating or drinking.

Absorption-absorption is a route by which substances can enter the body through the skin. dermal absorption is a route of exposure for toxic substances and route of administration for medication

(A dermal patch or skin patch is a medicated adhesive patch that is placed on the skin to deliver a medication into the skin.)

Dissolution (under the tongue) -refers to the pharmacological route of administration by which substances diffuse into the blood through tissues under the tongue.

Drug Abuse

Drug abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain. Apart from the long term damage to the body drug abuse causes, drug addicts who use needles are also at risk of contracting HIV and infections.

The most common causes of accidents resulting in death are drunk driving (40%) in the US. ( Source-carsurance.net)

Every 50 minutes, a person dies because of driving under the influence of alcohol.

(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Also, according to 2016 Road Safety Facts data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 29 people die every day in automotive crashes caused by drunk drivers.

Addiction vs. Abuse

Drug abuse is when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldn’t. You might take more than the regular dose of pills or use someone else’s prescription. You may abuse drugs to feel good, ease stress, or avoid reality. But usually, you’re able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using altogether.

Addiction is when you can’t stop. Not when it puts your health in danger. Not when it causes financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your loved ones. That urge to get and use drugs can fill up every minute of the day, even if you want to quit.

Causes of drug use

Drugs are used by people for  different reasons which may include:

Peer pressure, especially among school children and young adults.

The use of prescription drugs that were originally intended to target pain relief may have turned into recreational use and become addictive.

Chemicals may be used as part of religious practices or rituals.

Recreational purposes.

To obtain  a longer sexual pleasure.

Drug Addiction

Medical news today defined  "Drug Addiction", as  a complicated disease involving an inability to stop taking a substance or carrying out a particularly damaging behavior. It can lead to a range of adverse psychological, physiological, and personal effects.

Mayo clinic also defined "Drug addiction", as a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you're addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.

Like i mentioned above in drug abuse(s) ,Drug addiction can also  start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins with exposure to prescribed medications, or receiving medications from a friend or relative who has been prescribed the medication.The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others. As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill

Symptoms

·        Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly , daily or even several times a day

·        Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts

·        Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect

·        Taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended

·        Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug

·        Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it

·        Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of drug use

·        Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it's causing problems in your life or causing you physical or psychological harm

·        Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing

·        Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the influence of the drug

·        Spending a good deal of time getting the drug, using the drug or recovering from the effects of the drug

·        Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug

·        Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug

Complications

Drug use can have significant and damaging short-term and long-term effects. Taking some drugs can be particularly risky, especially if you take high doses and the complications can affect you both physically,socially,psychologically,and otherwise

Physical complications include

·        Direct effects of substances:  snorting substances example cocaine, through the nose can damage nasal cartilage.

·        Regular tobacco use can cause a range of cancers

·        smoking methamphetamine causes a severe form of dental decay also called "meth mouth".

·        Injury: This can occur during the administration of a drug, depending on the method. For example, injecting heroin with a needle can lead to skin and muscle damage at the point of injection.

·        many people take drugs by smoking, causing lung damage and respiratory illnesses.

·        Injury can also occur while intoxicated. Often, drug use impairs co-ordination and balance and can lead to falls and injuries.

·        Some substances induce violent reactions in people and increase the likelihood of risky or confrontational behaviors.

·        Overdose: Taking too much of one substance or mixing substances together can result in an overdose. While this can also occur with medications and pharmaceuticals, it is more likely to occur in a person who takes a substance to alter their mood or for recreational purposes.

·        An overdose can result in coma and death. On average, 115 people in the United States die every day by overdosing on opioid painkillers.

·        Cardiovascular health: Many substances lead to increase in blood pressure and heart rate, placing strain on the heart and blood vessels and increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death.

·        Loss of hygiene and routine: Addiction can become an encompassing feature in a person's life, and reward systems in the brain can rewire to prioritize the substance or behavior at the root of the addiction over nutrition, resolving stressful situations, and hygiene.

·        poor nutrition

·        In some cases, addiction can lead to homelessness, greatly reducing protection and resources and increasing exposure to the elements.

·        Fetal damage:

 If a woman takes substances while pregnant, this can lead to congenital anomalies or even death in the fetus.

Psychological complications

·        Addiction not only impairs a range of bodily functions but also changes the way a person thinks. Drug use alters how some brain circuits work.

·        Psychoactive substances: Many drugs directly cause hallucinations and longer-term psychological effects that can lead to severe mental health problems.

·        Depression: A 2014 study linked lifetime use of a number of different substances to increased levels of depression.

·        Anxiety, restlessness, guilt, and shame can also result from prolonged substance dependency and behavioral addiction.

·        Loneliness: People with addiction tend to push away the people closest to them and this removes or drastically reduces an individual's support network when they need it the most.

·        This can fuel further drug use and push people with addiction towards the more severe complications.

·        Adverse circumstances: Drug addiction might lead people to financial problems, homelessness, criminal activity, and prison. Deteriorating personal circumstances increase stress levels, depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.

·        Suicide: A 2015 study showed that six times as many people who regularly misuse opiates attempt suicide as people who do not misuse opiates. The rate of death by suicide was two to three times higher in people who had a dependency on opiates.

·        People use certain drugs as a way to attempt suicide, such as heroin. When the effects of the drugs themselves combine with resulting or underlying psychological difficulties, the results can be lethal.

Personal complications

·        loneliness

A substance disorder can make a person feel isolated, which might fuel further drug use and impact on relationships.

Addiction can change relationships to the people closest to the person with the condition. These can compound the effects of addiction on the brain and body.

·        Relationships

Often, obtaining the substance or enacting the behavior at the root of an addiction supplants obligations to other people, even family and dependents.

·        Finances

 Not only can the costs of regularly purchasing substances or pursuing behavioral impulses mount up, but addiction can also drive a person further and further from their place of employment and financial responsibilities. This can lead to difficulties that further compound the other health issues that can arise from addiction.

·        Crime:

Many psychoactive substances are illicit, and even possessing them can put a person in jail. However, people may also resort to crime to fund drug misuse, especially as drug addiction can lead to unemployment as the substance or behavior starts to replace personal responsibilities

  (Medicalnewstoday, October 2018)

Preventions

 Prevention of drug and alcohol abuse can start at home. Parents can talk to their children and 

explain the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. Specifically talking to children while they are young can create a strong foundation for awareness of drug use. This helps parents positively influence their children, while teaching their children about boundaries.In teaching boundaries, parents help children to understand when to deny something that can hurt them, while controlling the dynamic of an unhealthy request. Prevention talks also create deeper bonds and guidance between children and parents. Parents can establish consistency in communication, as well as guidance that can be followed for years. Preventative conversations can lead the adolescent to strengthen trust with their parent, and make wise decisions with habits, friends, interests, and influences.   (addictioncentre,2018)

Effectively deal with peer pressure.

 The biggest reason teens start using drugs is because their friends utilize peer pressure. No one likes to be left out, and teens (and yes, some adults, too) find themselves doing things they normally wouldn’t do, just to fit in. In these cases, you need to either find a better group of friends that won’t pressure you into doing harmful things, or you need to find a good way to say no. Teens should prepare a good excuse or plan ahead of time, to keep from giving into tempting situations.

 Examine the risk factors. If you’re aware of the biological, environmental and physical risk factors you possess, you’re more likely to overcome them. A history of substance abuse in the family, living in a social setting that glorifies drug abuse and/or family life that models drug abuse can be risk factors.

Keep a well-balanced life. People take up drugs when something in their life is not working, or when they’re unhappy about their lives or where their lives are going. Look at life’s big picture, and have priorities in order.

(treatmentsolutions, November 12,2009)