Public Health 101

Class Assignment
Faculty: Dr. MD Abdul Waheed (ABL)
Topic: Concept of Drug Dependence & Addiction and
Health Impacts

Student Name: SHAMIN YASAR CHOUDHURY

Student ID: 1711111630
Section: 39
 DRUG DEPENDENCE

Dependence on a drug means that you need that particular drug to function
normally. It is sometimes referred to as drug addiction or dependency. Some
drugs that cause dependence include nicotine, morphine, heroin (also know as
diamorphine), cocaine, amfetamine, and alcohol. In addition some people can
become dependent upon medicines that are prescribed or bought from their local
pharmacy. There are a number of medicines that your doctor may prescribe to
help with drug dependency. The type of medicine prescribed depends on the drug
you are dependent on.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE DRUG DEPENDENCE MAY HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL

DEPENDENCE, PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE OR TOLERANCE TO A PARTICULAR
DRUG
Physical dependence means that if the drug is stopped suddenly you get
withdrawal symptoms. For example, if you are dependent on heroin and stop this
drug suddenly then you may get the following symptoms: sweating, feeling hot
and cold, runny eyes and nose, yawning, being off food, stomach cramps, feeling
sick or vomiting, diarrhoea, tremor, poor sleep, restlessness, general aches and
pains, and just feeling awful.

Psychological dependence means that you have a craving or are compelled to use
a particular drug to give you pleasure or to stop you from feeling bad. Even
though it may be dangerous to take the drug.

Tolerance is usually a part of dependence, it means that you need more and more
of the same drug to give you the same feeling as the smaller amount you used
when you first starting taking that drug.
 Addiction
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by
compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered
a brain disease because drugs change the brain - they change its structure and
how it works. These brain changes can be long lasting, and can lead to the
harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs.
Millions are addicted, rehabs are full, jails are full and death toll keeps rising as a
result of drug abuse but why? Why do so many people go down that path? Why is
it so popular that people are willing to forgo the risks and engage in this kind of
pleasure seeking behavior?
1) Group behavior/ Social norms –
Many people take drugs/alcohol and consume to much drugs/alcohol because
they feel left out if everyone else is and they are not. No-one wants to feel left
out.
2) Inability to cope with life - when things get tough some people just don't have a
sufficient coping mechanism. Some people can cope with stress better than
others. The 'others' sometimes use drugs/alcohol to help them 'forget' about
their problems or experience a state were they are just not thinking
3) Inheritance and learned behavior - Addiction to certain types of drugs and to
alcohol can actually be inherited from your parents. Also, if you grew up in a
household where doing drugs/drinking alcohol is normal practice and encourage,
you will see it as 'normal' behavior.
About them anymore.

4) Rebellion - Some people, particularly teenagers, will simply do something

because they are told not to. This could be as a way of rebelling from authority
because
(a) they want to establish their own identities or
(b) their friends think it's 'cool'
 SOME MEASURES TO PREVENT DRUG DEPENDENCE
Stimulants (cocaine and amfetamines)
Unlike opiate dependence, there is no clear guidance on which medicines
should be prescribed for people who are dependent on stimulants such as
cocaine and amfetamine. As discussed above, benzodiazepines (such as
diazepam) can help the patient to 'come down' but this medicine is normally only
used for less than two weeks.

WHAT FACTORS DETERMINE IF A PERSON WILL BECOME ADDICTED

No single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. The
overall risk for addiction is impacted by the biological makeup of the individual - it
can even be influenced by gender or ethnicity, his or her developmental stage,
and the surrounding social environment (e.g., conditions at home, at school, and
in the neighborhood
Scientists estimate that genetic factors account for between 40 and 60 percent of
a person's vulnerability to addiction, including the effects of environment on gene
expression and function. Adolescents and individuals with mental disorders are at
greater risk of drug abuse and addiction than the general population.

Family

Be Involved and open with Families Are Better

Through Adolescence Stage Can be a Shaky Stage between Teens And their
parents, it’s very important To communicate and connect with them all the time