DRUG ABUSE AND ITS EFFECTS ON HUMAN LIFE.
INTRODUCTION
Drug abuse: became public health challenge, also called Substance abuse, is use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, medical and criminal justice contexts. In some cases criminal or anti-social behaviour occurs when the person is under the influence of a drug, and long term personality changes in individuals may occur as well. In addition to possible physical, social, and psychological harm, use of some drugs may also lead to criminal penalties, although these vary widely depending on the local jurisdiction.
According to the report, about 14.3 million abuse drugs by using them without prescription, and there are close to 3 Million Nigerians living with some level of drug dependence.
The level of drug abuse in Nigeria, about 1 in 10 persons abused drugs in the past year, is more than twice the world’s average.
Cannabis was the most abused drug in Nigeria and that corresponds to global findings as well. Other drugs that were found to be abused in the country includes opioids such as tramadol, cough syrups and other street drugs.
RATE OF DRUG ABUSE
Following a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA), funded by the European Union that about 14.3million people in Nigeria use drugs outside prescription, drug control experts have urged the authorities to improve on drug control policies in the country.
The report of the National Drug Survey Use released in Abuja showed that the number of drug users in Nigeria is higher than the entire population of some European countries; they're between 15 and 64 years of age. One in every four of them is also a woman.
The survey showed that the rate of drug use in Nigeria in 2018 is more than twice the global average of 5.3 percent.
Moreover, according to the report, close to three million of the drug users are drug dependent and cannot access help due to lack of health facilities.
Therefore, the extremely limited availability of drug counseling and treatment services has intensified the health crisis in the country. Women drug users often do not get specialised attention in the country because most of the limited facilities are targeted at male drug users.
WHAT'S DRUG ABUSE?
Drug abuse: Drug abuse is the use of illegal drugs or the use of prescription or over-the-counter medications in ways other than recommended or intended.
OR
Excessive use of psychoactive drugs, such as pain medications or illegal drugs. It can lead to physical, social or emotional harm.
OR
is a condition characterized by a self-destructive pattern of using a substance that leads to significant problems and distress, which may include tolerance to or withdrawal from the substance.
OR
is when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldn’t.
OR
Is the use of drugs out of medical order.
RISK FACTORS OF DRUG ABUSE
_Peer pressure
_Stress and inability to cope
_Availability of drug
_Anxiety disorders or depression
_Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
_Accessibility of drug
_Bipolar disorder
_Poor drug supplying policy
_Early drug use
_Low self esteem
_Lack of parental supervision
_Male gender
_Parental substance abuse
_Grief/ bereavement
_Personality disorders, such as antisocial behavioral disorder or borderline personality disorder
_Academic pressure
_Physical or sexual abuse
_Poor parent_child communication or bonding
_Failure in love matters
_Unemployment
_Bad company
_Maternal deprivation
_Urge of affluence
SOME COMMON DRUGS OF ABUSE
The drugs commonly abuse are basically categorized in to two:
1. Psychoactive drugs: Are those that affect mind and metal process (brain), examples:
_Tobaccos/Nicotine such cigarette, marijuana, shisha etc
_Alcohol
_Stimulant e.g cocaine, caffeine
_Opioid drugs e.g Pentazocine, morphine, heroin
_Moderate opioid e.g trydal (Tramadol)
_Expectorants e.g emzolyn, exiplon, coflin, codine etc
_Anxiolytic drugs sedatives e.g Diazepam, bromazepam, carbamazepine
_Antipsychotic drugs e.g chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, trifluoperazine
_Antiparkinson drugs e.g Benzhexol (artane)
_Inhalants e.g gasoline
_Anaesthetic agent e.g ketamine, propofol, ametocaine, halothane
2. Non psychoactive drugs: are those drugs with no effect on the mind and mental process but affect the body directly or indirect when abuse; examples:
_Analgesic (Pain killer) e.g paracetamol, acetaminophen, aspirin
_Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs e.g Ebumol, diclofenac, piroxicam
_Steroidal anti inflammatory drugs e.g predinisilone, dexamethasone, butamethasone
_Antibiotics e.g amphiclox, amoxyl, tetracycline
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF DRUG ABUSE
_Craving the drug despite difficulties obtaining it or wanting to quit
_Deterioration of relationships
_Deterioration of school or work performance
_Difficulty holding a job
_Disengagement from non–drug-related activities
_Financial problems
_High-risk sexual behavior
_Increasing time spent thinking about, obtaining, using, and recovering from the drug
_Leaving responsibilities unfulfilled
_Legal problems
_Needing higher doses to get the same effect (tolerance)
_Using a drug to avoid its withdrawal symptoms
_Using drugs before or during activities where safety is a concern
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF DRUG INTOXICATION
_Drug use can lead to symptoms of intoxication including:
_Balance problems, difficulty walking, and falls
_Change in mental status
_Changes in mood, personality or behavior
_Diminished reflexes
_Drowsiness or excessive energy
_Impaired balance and coordination
_Impaired judgment and memory
_Impaired vision
_Nausea with or without vomiting
_Pupil size changes
_Slurred speech; excessive talking
TREATMENT
The treatment of drug abuse is often an extended process done in the psychiatric hospital or specialized institution for drug abusers involving multidisciplinary approach including:
_Cognitive behavioral therapy to work on thought patterns and behavior
_Family therapy to help the family understand the problem and to avoid enabling drug use
_Identification and treatment of coexisting conditions e.g memory loss, brain damage, cancer etc.
_Occupational therapy
_Medications to decrease cravings, block withdrawal symptoms, counteract drug effects, or to cause unpleasant side effects if a drug is used
_Motivational incentives to reinforce abstinence
_Motivational interviewing to utilize a person’s readiness to change behaviors
_Rehabilitation to assist those with severe addiction or coexisting mental illness through the initial stages of quitting
_Supervised withdrawal (detoxification) to prevent, recognize and treat physical symptoms of withdrawal
_Support groups
EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE TO HUMAN LIFE
_Brain damage, memory loss, attention difficulties, and impaired judgment
_Cancer
_Cardiovascular disease e.g cardiac arrest, stroke, hypertension
_Hepatitis
_HIV and AIDS, and other infectious diseases
_Legal, academic and social problems
_Liver disease e.g liver cirrhosis
_Domestic violence and other violence
_Lung e.g lung cancer
_Marital problems e.g divorce
_Kidney disease e.g renal failure
_Loss of job
_Malnutrition
_Mental problems/Psychological changes, including aggression, paranoia, depression, stupor and hallucinations
_Respiratory arrest
_Stupor or coma
_Withdrawal symptoms
_Decrease productivity
_Suicidal behavior
_Trauma such as bone deformities, burns, laceration
_Change of skin colour
_Broken home
_Child delinquency
WAYS TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE
_Awareness/health education/public enlightenment
_Youth empowerment
_Manufacture control
_Strengthen the agencies that control criminal use of drugs e.g National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
_Avoid peer group that are expose to such act
_Ensure effective control of dangerous drugs
_Seek medical advice when ever you're fall sick
_Avoid self medication
_Job opportunities/Occupation
_Ensure effective control of dangerous drugs supply
_Avoid prolong use of addictive drugs e.g pentazocine
_Monitor children closely especially during adolescence stage
_Establishment of centre for rehabilitation of victims
_Guidance and counselling
_Avoid selling of drugs without medical prescription
_Establishment of skills acquisition centre
_Deal with life pressure
_Keep a well balanced life
_Avoid the use of drugs at early age
_Avoid social exposure
_Avoid use of abusive substance in the presence of young children e.g cigarette
_Provide regular time for family
_Involve kids in family projects
_Cut the electronics down the notch
_Talk to children on drugs and educate them
_Community involvement
_Avoid keeping unused pharmaceuticals within the children easy reach
_Extra curricular activities
_Establish policies against substance abuse and consequences to whom violate the rules
_Avoid doping
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Drug abuse also called substance abuse which involves the illegal use of drug or taking of drug without medical order or prescription, including self medication that's taking drug by yourself without medical consultation from health practitioner and with no health related knowledge either psychoactive or non psychoactive drugs. It's commonly among both gender and all ages but more common at early age and goes on till old age. The most dangerous drugs of abuse are mainly psychoactive that has the ability to alter psychological stage of an individual including physical, physiological and social well-being as well, thus, injuring the body's systems and result in to so many damage enclose kidney damage, liver damage, heart diseases, marital problems, loss of job, violence, mental illnesses among other.
However, prolong drug abuse may result in to drug dependency (is a state when the drug a person became physically dependent to a certain drug/substance) and drug addiction (is a disease when the drug is rooted in to the person's brain).
Conclusively, the major ways to overcome drug abuse are avoidance of self medication, seeking medical advice when ill and awareness is the best way to address such public challenge.
REFERENCES
_American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th Ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
_Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2015). Behavioral health trends in the United States: Results from the 2014 national survey on drug use and health. HHS Publication No. SMA 15-4927, NSDUH Series H-50.
_National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2016). Commonly abused drugs charts.
_National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Drug abuse and addiction.
_National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Principles of adolescent substance use disorder treatment: A research-based guide
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Thank you.
Nurse Abdullahi Musa,
An advocator,
Drug abuse awareness campaigner,
From Sokoto-Nigeria.
Gmail:abdurrahmanmct08@gmail