SUBSTANCE ADDICTION

“Drugs takes you to hell, disguised as heaven.”

GROUP MEMBERS

1. Muhammad Hamza (21K-3815)

2. Syed Anser Tayyab (21K-3909)
3. Huzaifa Awan (21K-3835)
4. Zayn Khan (21K-3828)
5. Faaiz Kadiwal (21K-3830)

COURSE INSTRUCTOR: - Ms. Aqsa Fayyaz

SUBMISSION DATE: - 16/11/2022

OBJECTIVES
1.Introduction and brief history of Addiction
2.Types of Addiction – Substance Addiction
3.Introduction to Substance Addiction
4.Recognizing signs of Substance Addiction
5.Categories of Drugs used in Substance Addiction
6.Symptoms of Drug Addiction
7.Causes and consequences of Substance Addiction
8.Risk Factors affecting the development of Substance Addiction
9.Preventing Substance Addiction
ADDICTION
• An addiction is a chronic dysfunction of the brain system that involves reward,
motivation, and memory.

•  It’s about the way your body craves a substance or behavior, especially if it causes a
compulsive or obsessive pursuit of “reward” and lack of concern over consequences.

• People experiencing addiction are also prone to cycles of relapse and remission. 

• They can lead to permanent health complications and serious consequences like
bankruptcy.
Someone experiencing an Addiction will:
• be unable stay away from the substance or stop the addictive behavior

• display a lack of self-control

• have an increased desire for the substance or behavior

• dismiss how their behavior may be causing problems

• lack an emotional response

HISTORY
• The etymology of the term addiction throughout history has been often misunderstood
and has taken on various meanings associated with the word.

• An example is the usage of the word in the religious landscape of early modern
Europe. "Addiction" at the time meant "to attach" to something.

•  It wasn't until the 19th century that addiction was seen and acknowledged in
the Western world as a disease, being both a physical condition and mental illness.

• Today, addiction is understood both as a biopsychosocial and neurological disorder that

negatively impacts.
TYPES OF ADDICTION

• Substance Addiction

• Non- Substance Addiction

SUBSTANCE ADDICTION
• Substance use disorder (SUD) or drug addiction is a disease that negatively affects a
person’s brain and behavior. 

• A person can become obsessed with any legal , illegal or certain medications.

• Nicotine, marijuana and alcohol are commonly misused drugs in today’s world.

Recognizing signs of Substance Addiction

• Problems at school or work — frequently missing school or work, a sudden

disinterest in school activities or work, or a drop in grades or work performance.

• Physical health issues — lack of energy and motivation, weight loss or gain, or red
eyes.

• Neglected appearance — lack of interest in clothing, grooming or looks.

Recognizing signs of Substance Addiction

• Changes in behavior — being secretive about going out with friends or drastic
changes in behavior and in relationships with family and friends

• Financial issues — sudden requests for money without a reasonable explanation.

• Signs of drug use or intoxication may vary, depending on the type of drug.
CATEGORIES OF DRUGS

• Stimulants

• Depressants

• Hallucinogens
DEPRESSANTS
DEPRESSANTS

• Drugs that slows the activity of the Central Nervous System.

• Reduce tension and stress.

• Impacts on a person’s concentration, way of thinking or perceiving.

• Most widely used groups of depressants includes Alcohol, sedative hypnotic drugs
and opioids.
How Depressants Affect The Mind And Body?

Depressants binds to receptors for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) which is a

neurotransmitter responsible for producing feelings of calmness and sedation and
depression of the central nervous system.
How Depressants Affect The Mind And Body?

• In addition to affecting GABA and glutamine, depressants releases dopamine.

• Dopamine is the neurotransmitter chemical responsible for pleasure and reward.

• This causes people to use them even more in an attempt to increase those feel-good
feelings that dopamine produces.
SIDE EFFECTS OF DEPRESSANTS

• Low blood pressure

• Slowed heart rate
• Fatigue
• Light-headedness
• Dizziness
• Slurred speech
• Depression
• Coma
SIDE EFFECTS OF DEPRESSANTS

• Unconsciousness
• Vomiting
• Impaired motor skills
• Slowed breathing
• Nausea
• Low blood pressure
• Seizures
• Death
ALCOHOL

• Alcohol is classified as a Central Nervous System Depressant.

• It slows down the brain functioning and neural activities.

• Reduces individual’s ability to think rationally, lessens inhibitions, and distorts judgment.

• According to World Health Organization it is estimated that 2 billion people worldwide

consumes alcohol.

• As more alcohol is consumed, more Depressant effects will develop.

SIDE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

• Respiratory Failure
• Coma or death
• Unconsciousness
• Impairs judgement, vision and alertness
• Slow reaction time
• Dulls senses
• Weakens concentration
• Vomiting
SEDATIVE HYPNOTIC DRUGS

• They are often called anxiolytic drugs which produces feelings of relaxation and
drowsiness.

• At low dose – calming or sedative effect.

• At high dose – induces sleep and hypnotics.

• They include barbiturates and benzodiazepines.

BARBITURATES AND BENZODIAZEPINES

• Prescription central nervous system depressants.

• Used or misused in search for a sense of relaxation.

• Used to forget stress-related thoughts and feelings.

• Barbiturates. An example is phenobarbital.

• Benzodiazepines. Examples include sedatives, such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam

(Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan) etc.
SIDE EFFECTS OF SEDATIVE HYPNOTIC DRUGS
•Drowsiness and dizziness
•Slurred speech
•Lack of coordination and concentration
•Irritability or changes in mood
•Memory and thinking problems
•Involuntary eye movements
•Lack of inhibition
•Slowed breathing and reduced blood pressure
•Falls or accidents
OPIOIDS

• Opioids are narcotic, painkilling drugs produced from opium or made synthetically.

• This class of drugs includes heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone, fentanyl and
oxycodone.

• Sometimes called the "opioid epidemic," addiction to opioid prescription pain

medicines has reached an alarming rate across the United States
SIDE EFFECTS OF OPIOID

• A sense of feeling "high“ and confusions

• Reduced sense of pain
• Agitation, drowsiness and constipation
• Slurred speech
• Problems with attention and memory
• Lack of awareness or inattention to people and things
• Depression
• Runny nose or nose sores (snorting drugs)
• Needle marks (injecting drugs)
What Causes Drug Addiction?
• An action performed once as an experiment in a social situation can soon develop into a
habit.

•  Some people enjoy the physical and mental stimulations these substances create.

• This condition ultimately leads the person to develop an addiction to that particular
substance. 
Drug Addiction Facts & Stats
• Most people who suffer with substance abuse disorder (SUD) tend to hide their
condition and prefer not to be vocal about it.

• As per the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19.7 million adults in the U.S.
battled SUD in 2017 (individuals who are aged 12 and older).

• About 74% of those adults struggled with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2017.

• About 38% of adults battled an illegal drug use disease in 2017.

• Drug addiction causes the U.S. a $740 billion annual loss.

CONSEQUENCES OF
DRUG ADDICTION
 HOW DRUG USE AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS

• 1 – Anxiety: includes symptoms such as rapid heart rate, mood swings, insomnia, sweating.
• 2 – Shame and Guilt: Addicts evaluate themselves negatively on a regular basis. Continual
negative self-talk adds to feelings of shame and guilt.
• 3 – Loss of Interest: Addicts no longer feel joy in doing activities that they enjoyed before.
• 4 – Negative feedback loop: After some period of consuming drugs, the feeling of comfort
is replaced by feeling of guilt. This feeling forces them to seek more comfort in the
substance.
 HOW DRUG USE AFFECTS RELATIONSHIPS

• Drug addiction can overtake someone’s life.

• Addicts lose the capacity to maintain healthy relationships.
• The addict may be gone for long periods of time and no one knows his whereabouts.
• The person lies to cover up the drug use, and that leads to an eradication of trust.
• Sometimes the drug user and partner, enter into a co-dependent or enabling relationship that
is unhealthy for both .
 HOW DRUG USE AFFECTS COMMUNITIES

• Community has to fund more police officers, and jails have to increase personnel staffing
because of an increase in the number of inmates.
• Community could gain a reputation for its “bad” neighborhoods and experience a loss of
property values and sales tax revenue.
• social service welfare programs for the addicts costs an estimated $23 billion each year in
USA.
 HOW DRUG USE AFFECTS THE ECONOMY

• Research reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that alcohol
abuse costs the US around $223.5 billion annually.
• Reduced productivity in the workplace accounts for the greatest cost, taking up more than
70% of the total cost of alcohol abuse.
• A report by the National Drug Intelligence Center highlights that the criminal costs of drug
abuse total between $61 billion and $113 billion.
• The federal government of US spent nearly $36 billion in 2021’s fiscal year on drug control
policy.
 OVERCOMING THE ADDICTION
PROBLEM
• Think about change
• Explore your addiction treatment options
• Find support for your addiction recovery
• Lean on close friends and family. Having the support of friends and family members is an
invaluable asset in recovery. If you're reluctant to turn to your loved ones because you've let
them down before, consider going to relationship counseling or family therapy.
• Build a sober social network. If your previous social life revolved around drugs, you may
need to make some new connections.
• Consider moving into a sober living home. Sober living homes provide a safe, supportive
place to live while you're recovering from drug addiction. They are a good option if you
don't have a stable home or a drug-free living environment.