Drugs & Substance Abuse

Who is he ???

What are drugs and what do they do ?

"a chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being."

What is Drug abuse ?

“according to the Medline's Medical Encyclopedia is "the use of illicit drugs or the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than those for which they are indicated or in a manner or in quantities other than directed."

• Drug abuse is an intense desire to obtain increasing amounts of a particular substance. Drug dependence is the body's physical need, or addiction, to a specific agent. Over the long term, this dependence results in physical harm and behavior problems which causes tolerance and cross tolerance. Thus, it creates a vicious cycle.

Illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroine are not the only substances that can be abused. Alcohol, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, inhalant and solvents, sedatives, coffee and cigarettes, can all be used to harmful excess.

CONSUMPTION OF VARIOUS DRUGS

• Legal drugs are not necessarily safer. A study in 2010 asked drug-harm experts to rank various illegal and legal drugs. Alcohol was found to be the most dangerous.

• It is believed that drug abuse only harms the user but this graph clearly depicts that it not just harms the person but destroys the whole family ,his profession, and life.

Some Reasons for Drug Use

• Some individuals experiment with drugs,

• Some try drugs out of curiosity, others to have a good time, because friends are doing it.

• Some in an effort to improve athletic performance or ease stress, anxiety, or depression.

• The Use of it doesn’t automatically lead to abuse. drug use moves from casual to problematic depending on the individual.

Stages of Addiction

• Experimentation

• Regular Use

• Substance Abuse/Risky Behavior

• Addiction or Chemical Dependency

Risk Factors

• Your genes, mental health, family and social environment increases your vulnerability include.

• Family history of addiction

• Abuse, neglect, or other traumatic experiences in childhood

• Mental disorders such as depression and anxiety

• Early use of drugs

Effect on the Brain

• Taking a recreational drug causes a surge in levels of dopamine in your brain, which trigger feelings of pleasure. Your brain remembers these feelings and wants them repeated.

• Changes in your brain interfere with your ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs.

• Changes in your brain interfere with your ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs.

Common signs and symptoms

of drug abuse

• You’re neglecting your responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children) because of your drug use.

• You’re using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high, such as driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.

• Your drug use is getting you into legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing to support a drug habit. 

• Your drug use is causing problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of old friends.

• You’ve built up a drug tolerance.  A greater quantity of the drug has to be used to get a similar high.

• You take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms.  You cannot stay too long without the drug, experiences withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety.

• You’ve lost control over your drug use. You cannot control your drug cravings, you feel powerless to stop using, you become dependent and feel that you’re unable to function without it.

• Your life revolves around drug use. You are consume by thoughts of the drugs and how to get it.

• You’ve abandoned activities you used to enjoy. You isolate yourself and avoid socializing in order to use drugs.

• You continue to use drugs, despite knowing it’s hurting you.  You are experiencing serious health and harmful problems but continues despite of them- infections, mood swings, depression, paranoia.

Drug abusers often try to conceal their symptoms. look for the following warning signs:

Physical warning signs of drug abuse

• Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual

• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Sudden weight loss or weight gain

• Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits

• Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing

• Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination

Behavioral signs of drug abuse

• Poor work or school attendance and decline in performance.

• Spike in spending and urgency for money or financial problems.

• Secretive, suspicious unusual behaviors

• Sudden change in friends and associates.

• Accident or trouble prone (fights, accidents, illegal activities)

• Personality Change , (sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts)

• hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness

• Lack of motivation

• Unexplained Anxiety or paranoia

If you suspect that a friend or family member has a drug problem, here are a few things you can do:

• Speak up. Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer your help and support, without being judgmental. The earlier addiction is treated, the better. Don’t wait for your loved one to hit bottom! Be prepared for excuses and denial by listing specific examples of your loved one’s behavior that has you worried.

• Take care of yourself. Don’t get so caught up in someone else’s drug problem that you neglect your own needs. Make sure you have people you can talk to and lean on for support. And stay safe. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.

• Avoid self-blame. You can support a person with a substance abuse problem and encourage treatment, but you can’t force an addict to change. You can’t control your loved one’s decisions. Let the person accept responsibility for his or her actions, an essential step along the way to recovery for drug addiction.

Drugs?

Don’t just say

No. Say No,

thank you