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Drugs and Their Abuses
Drugs and Their Abuses
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Any substance, other than food, used in the prevention, diagnosis, all
aviation or treatment of a disease is called a drug. Drugs are also
known as medicines. Generally, the term drugs applied to any
stimulating or depressing substance that can be habituating or
addictive. A drug, broadly speaking, can be categorized in many ways;
hard or soft, uppers or downers, addictive or non-addictive, most
harmful or least harmful, legal or illegal.
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● Late 19th century CE: Coca-Cola was invented, containing
cocaine as one of its ingredients.
● Early 20th century CE: Heroin is synthesized by Bayer
Pharmaceuticals and marketed as a non-addictive substitute for
morphine.
● Mid to late 20th century CE: LSD became popular among
counterculture movements in the US and Europe.
CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS:
There are a large number of drugs on which people become dependent.
These are classified into four major groups
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❖ Hallucinogens Make a person more LSQ
wakeful and Mescaline,
perceptions Psilocybin
Ganja
Chares
Hashish
HEROIN:
★ Opioids are the drugs, which bind to specific opioid receptors
present in our central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.
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★ With heroin, the rush is usually accompanied by a warm flushing
of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities .
COCAINE :
★ Coca alkaloid or cocaine is obtained from coca plant Erythroxylum
coca, native to South America. It interferes with the transport of
the neuro-transmitter dopamine .
★ The drug may lead to fatal strokes or heart attacks for some
users.
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★ Cocaine has a small number of accepted medical uses such as
numbing and decreasing bleeding during nasal surgery.
CRACK:
★ A potent form of cocaine, crack is often smoked and suddenly
creates an intense euphoric sensation for a short while.
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HALLUCINOGENS:
★ Hallucinogens are a class of drugs that cause profound
distortions in a person's perceptions of reality, otherwise known
as hallucinations.
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CANNABINOIDS:
★ Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals which interact with
cannabinoid receptors present principally in the brain. Natural
cannabinoids are obtained from the inflorescences of the plant
Cannabis sativa. The flower tops, leaves and the resin of
cannabis plants are used in various combinations to produce
marijuana, hashish, charas and ganja. Generally taken by
inhalation and oral ingestion, these are known for their effects on
the cardiovascular system of the body .
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ALCOHOLS:
★ Abusing alcohol can cause psychological, physical, and social
problems, and it can lead to the destruction of relationships,
friendships, and marriages.
★ The liver is an organ which helps break down and remove harmful
substances from your body, including alcohol. Long-term alcohol
use interferes with the process. It also increases your risk for
chronic liver inflammation and liver disease.
TOBACCO:
★ It is a native of South Africa, where the Red Indian first started
smoking. Now the tobacco plant has spread the world over. It has
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large, quote to Lancelot leaves and terminal clusters of tubular,
white or pink flowers.
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HOW DRUG ADDICTION BEGINS
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Smoking, Drinking and Use of
Drugs:
★ Smoking and drinking and use of drugs frequently or regularly are
social diseases. Young people take to these habits for fun, show
off or curiosity, as an adventure or feeling of freedom, or as a
gesture of defiance against the elders who themselves indulge in
these activities but check the youngsters. Temporary escape
from the life problems and mental relaxation felt on taking the
drugs in the beginning increase people’s interest in them. Soon
they become habitual and find it difficult to leave. The daily dose
to get the desired effect increases with time.
Short-Term Effects :
★ Loss of appetite
★ Dilated pupils
★ Nausea
★ Hyperstimulation
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★ Hallucinations, hyperexcitability, irritability
★ Intense euphoria
★ Depression
Long-Term Effects:
★ Permanent damage to blood vessels of ear and brain, high blood
pressure, leading to heart attacks, strokes and death
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★ Liver, kidney and lung damage
★ Respiratory failure
★ Delirium or psychosis
★ Severe depression
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EFFECT OF NICOTINE :
★ Nicotine is a low concentration.
Other Effects:
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Smoking is annoying to others:
Cigarette smoke is quite annoying to non-smokers. It may prove even
more harmful to them. A smoker should avoid smoking. When in the
company of non-smokers. A smoker makes the nearby people passive
smokers through inhaling smoke released by him.
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★ Gastrointestinal system (stomach and intestines):
Increased acid secretion leading to acidity, ulcers, gastritis, and
cancer
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★ Fetal alcohol syndrome: Drinking alcohol in pregnancy may
cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (physical abnormalities, growth
retardation and developmental delay).
The age-old adage of ‘prevention is better than cure’ holds true here
also. It is also true that habits such as smoking, taking drugs or alcohol
are more likely to be taken up at a young age, more during adolescence.
Hence, it is best to identify the situations that may push an adolescent
towards use of drugs or alcohol, and to take remedial measures well in
time. In this regard, the parents and the teachers have a special
responsibility. Parenting that combines with high levels of nurturance
and consistent discipline, has been associated with lowered risk of
substance (alcohol/drugs/tobacco) abuse. Some of the measures
mentioned here would be particularly useful for prevention and control
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of alcohol and drug abuse among adolescents .
Avoid undue peer pressure : Every child has his/her own choice
and personality, which should be respected and nurtured. A child
should not be pushed unduly to perform beyond his/her threshold
limits; be it studies, sports or other activities.
Seeking help from parents and peers : Help from parents and
peers should be sought immediately so that they can guide
appropriately. Help may even be sought from close and trusted
friends. Besides getting proper advice to sort out their problems,
This would help young people to vent their feelings of anxiety and guilt.
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SCENARIO OF DRUG ADDICTION :
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CASE STUDY OF A PATIENT:
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CONCLUSION :
★ Drug use and addiction cause a lot of disease and disability in the
world.
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