Drug Abuse
- Drugs are normally used for the treatment of disease on the advice of a physician and withdrawn after recovery.
- A person who is habituated to a drug due to its prolonged use is called a drug addict.
- This is called drug addiction or drug abuse.
- A drug that modifies the physical, biological, psychological or social behaviour of a person by stimulating, depressing or disturbing the functions of the body and the mind is called an addictive drug.
- These drugs interact with the central nervous system and affect the individual physically and mentally.
Types of Drugs
- There are certain drugs called psychotropic drugs which act on the brain and alter the behaviour, consciousness, power of thinking and perception. They are referred as mood-altering drugs.
Drug Dependence
- Persons who consume these drugs become fully dependent on them, they cannot live without drugs.
- This condition is referred as drug dependence.
- World Health Organization (WHO) 1984 suggested the use of the term drug dependence in place of drug addiction or drug abuse
- Physical and mental dependence Dependence on the drug for normal condition of well-being and to maintain physiological state.
- Psychological dependence is a feeling that drugs help them to reduce stress.
Behavioural Changes of Drug Users
- Adverse effects of drug use among adolescents are
- Drop in academic performance, absence from school or college.
- Lack of interest in personal hygiene, isolation, depression, fatigue and aggressive behaviour.
- Deteriorating relationships with family and friends.
- Change in food and sleeping habits.
- Fluctuation in body weight and appetite
- Always looking out for an easy way to get money for obtaining drugs.
- Prone to infections like AIDS and Hepatitis-B.