DRUG ADDICTION

Contents :
 Introduction

 Classification of Drugs

 Some Harmful Drugs

 How does drug addiction

Begin?

 How does drug addiction

Begin?

 Short-Term Effects

 Long-Term Effects

 TOBACCO
 ALCOHOL
Introduction:
Drug abuse, also called substance abuse or
chemical abuse, is a disorder that is characterized by a
destructive pattern of using a substance that leads to
significant problems or distress. Teens are increasingly
engaging in prescription drug abuse, particularly
narcotics (which are prescribed to relieve severe pain),
and stimulant medications, which treat conditions like
attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy.

Any substance, other than food, used in the

prevention, diagnosis, all aviation or treatment of a
disease is called a drug. Drug is also known as a
medicine. 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.
Classification of Drugs:
There are a large number of drugs on
which people become dependent. These are classifies into
four major groups: sedatives and tranquillizers, opiate
narcotics, stimulations and hallucinogens.
Some Harmful Drugs:
1. Heroin:
Commonly used as smack Heroin is chemically
diacetylmorphine which is a white, odorless, bitter
crystalline compound. This is obtained by acetylation of
morphine which is extracted from latex of poppy plant
Papaver somniferum. Generally taken by snorting and
injection, heroin is a depressant and slows down body
function.

2. Cannabinoids:
Natural cannabinoids are obtained from the
inflorescences of the plant Cannabis sativa. The flower
tops, leaves and the resin of the plant 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 cardiovascular
system of the body.

3. Cocaine:
It is obtained from coca plant Erythroxylum
coca, native to South America. It interferes with the
transport of the neuro-transmitter dopamine. Cocaine,
commonly called coke or crack is usually snorted. It has
the potent stimulating action on central nervous system,
producing sense of euphoria and increased energy.
Excessive dosage of cocaine causes hallucinations.
How does drug addiction Begin?:
There are many factors that lead people
to drug addiction.

1. Curiosity: Frequent references to drugs by public

media create curiosity for having a personal experience
of the drugs.

2. Friend’s pressure:
Frequent appreciation of drug experience by
friends allures others to start the use of drugs.

3. Frustration and Depression:

Some people start taking drugs to get relief
from frustration and depression.

4. Desire for More Work:

Students sometimes take drugs to keep
awake the whole night to prepare for examination. It is
not desirable as it may cause mental breakdown.
5. Looking for a Different World:
A wrong notion that the drugs open up a
new world tempts some young pupils to start taking-
drugs.

6. Relief from Pain:

A prolonged use of pain-relieving drugs with
physician’s advice at times leads to addiction.

7. Family History:
Children may take to drugs by seeing their
elders in the family.

8. Excitement and Adventure:

The young take to drugs to satisfy their
instinct for excitement and adventure.
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 in
difficult to leave. The daily dose to get the desired effect
increases with time.

Short-Term Effects:
•Loss of appetite

•Increased heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature

•Contracted blood vessels

•Increased rate of breathing

•Dilated pupils

•Disturbed sleep patterns

•Nausea

•Hyperstimulation

•Bizarre, erratic, sometimes violent behavior

•Hallucinations, hyperexcitability, irritability

•Tactile hallucination that creates the illusion of bugs

burrowing under the skin

•Intense euphoria

•Anxiety and paranoia

•Depression

•Intense drug craving

•Panic and psychosis

•Convulsions, seizures and sudden death from high doses

(even one time)

Long-Term Effects:
• Permanent damage to blood vessels of ear and brain,
high blood pressure, leading to heart attacks, strokes and
death

• Liver, kidney and lung damage

• Respiratory failure

• Infectious diseases and abscesses if injected

• Malnutrition, weight loss

• Auditory and tactile hallucinations

• Sexual problems, reproductive damage and infertility

(for both men and women)

• Disorientation, apathy, confused exhaustion

• Irritability and mood disturbances

• Increased frequency of risky behavior

• Delirium or psychosis

• Severe depression

• Tolerance and addiction (even after just one use)

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DRUGS:

TOBACCO:
Sources:
 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 large, quote to Lancelot leaves and
terminal clusters of tubular, white or pink flowers.

Modes of Use:
Tobacco is used for smoking, chewing and snuffing.
Its main stimulating component is poisonous volatile
alkaid nicotine, which causes addiction. Nicotine
synthesis occurs in the roots of the plant but it is stored
in the leaves. The leaves contain 2 to 8% nicotine.
Inhaling tobacco smoke from cigars, cigarettes, biddies,
pipes and hubble-bubble is called smoking. Cigar is a roll
of tobacco leaf. Cigarette is cut tobacco wrapped in
paper. Bidi is tobacco wrapped. In a piece of leaf.
Tobacco smoke is drawn directly from pipe and through
water is hubble-bubble. Smoking may give some
temporary relief to the strained nerves but in the long
run it proves a dangerous health hazard. The quantity of
nicotine contained in one cigar may prove fatal if injected
intravenously into a person. When smoked only 10% of
the smoke is inhaled. Hence, no immediate ill effect is
observed.

Effect of Nicotine:
Nicotine is low concentrated.
(i) Stimulates conduction of nerve impulses.

(ii) Relaxes the muscles.

(iii) Releases adrenaline, increasing heart beat rate and

pressure.

(iv) Increased blood pressure due to smoking chances

the risk of heart diseases.

(v) Retards fetal growth in expecting mothers and

(vi) Causes tobacco addiction. High concentration of

nicotine paralyses nerve cells.

ALCOHOL:
 An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol,
commonly known as alcohol, although in chemistry the
definition of alcohol includes many other compounds.
Ethanol is a centrally-acting drug with a depressant
effect. Beer is an alcoholic beverage and thus has the
same harmful effects as other kinds of alcohol, depending
on the quantity consumed

Reasons for Drinking:

• Psychological factors are curiosity, poor stress
control, escape from reality, poor impulse control, low
self – esteem, positive attitudes towards alcohol, to get
rid of problems, to overcome loneliness, relief from
tension and to gain courage.

• Social factors are peer pressure, modeling, easy

availability of alcohol in the market, party culture, family
environment (Parent/s drinking alcohol), lack of family
support, to keep up social norms and to show their
masculinity.

Impact of Drinking Alcohol:

 Unlike other foods, alcohol does not require
digestion. When one drinks, alcohol is absorbed directly
into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach
and the intestine.

Once alcohol enters the bloodstream it circulates

throughout the body. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver
and is changed to carbon dioxide, water and some
calories of energy which gets converted into fat. A small
amount of alcohol goes out of the body through breath,
urine and sweat. Regular, excessive use of alcohol causes
acute and chronic problems related to health, occupation,
family and social relationships.

Sources:
Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, flammable, colorless
liquid having a penetrating odor and burning taste. It is
one of the products of the distillation of fermented grains,
fruit juices and starches with the help of yeast enzymes.
It is the principal constituent and the in toxicating
principle of wines.

Modes of Use:
Alcohol is taken in low concentration, as the beer,
toddy and wine and in relatively high concentration as
arrack, brandy, whisky, rum, gin, vodka etc.

Impact of Drinking Alcohol:

 Unlike other foods, alcohol does not require
digestion. When one drinks, alcohol is absorbed directly
into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach
and the intestine.Once alcohol enters the bloodstream it
circulates throughout the body. Alcohol is metabolized in
the liver and is changed to carbon dioxide, water and
some calories of energy which gets converted into fat. A
small amount of alcohol goes out of the body through
breath, urine and sweat. Regular, excessive use of
alcohol causes acute and chronic problems related to
health, occupation, family and social relationships.

Health Problems:
Alcohol can damage every system of our body.Gastro
intestinal system (stomach and intestines): Increased
acid secretion leading to acidity, ulcers, gastritis, and
cancer

Liver : Hepatitis, jaundice and vomiting of blood due to

cirrhosis of liver, liver cancer, acute liver failure.

Pancreas : Pancreatic damage due to inflammation of

pancreas and acute pancreatitis leading to sudden death.

Central nervous system: (brain and spinal cord):

Permanent damage of brain resulting in memory
disturbances, other nervous problems, fits and mental
illnesses.
Cardio vascular system: High blood pressure, increased
tendency to heart attacks, enlargement of the heart.

Hangovers: Excessive drinking can lead to hangovers,

thus causing problems like headache, nausea, vomit and
body aches.

Weight gain: alcohol consumption in larger quantities

can lead to weight gain, because alcoholic beverages are
usually high in calories.

Weak immune system: alcohol consumption makes

your immune system weak, thus making your body more
susceptible to infections.

Cancer: alcohol when consumed in excessive quantities

puts you at a higher risk of developing cancer

Fetal alcohol syndrome: Drinking alcohol in pregnancy

may cause the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (physical
abnormalities, growth retardation and developmental
delay).