DRUG
ABUSE
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
WHAT
IS DRUG ABUSE? Drug abuse is the excessive, maladaptive, or
addictive use of drugs for non-medicinal purposes. It also defines a state,
emotional and sometimes physical, characterized by a compulsion to take drugs
on a constant basis in order to experience its mental effects. Drug abuse gives
rise to dependence both physical and psychological. Dependence gives rise to
mental, emotional, biological or physical, social and economic instability. The
effects of drug abuse on an individual therefore form the basis for its cumulative
effects on the society. This is the major danger of drug abuse. Youth in any
society occupy a delicate and sensitive position within the population
structure for several reasons. The Nigerian law for example recognizes that an
individual below the age of seven is incapable of committing a crime and an
individual between seven and twelve years should be able to know what he ought
not to do that is if it can be proved he doesn't know and he also isn't
criminally responsible for his acts. Between the ages of twelve and seventeen,
a person is regarded as a juvenile, and while he may be held responsible for
his acts or omissions, he is treated specially under the law by the Children
and Young Persons Act instead of the Criminal Procedure Act. Statistics have
shown that drug barons prefer recruiting their traffickers from the ages of 15
to 35 years, most of whom are either unskilled, unschooled or students or the
unemployed. There are several factors, which can influence the abuse of drugs
among youths. The major ones are: peer pressure, weak parental control, child
abuse, imitation, emotional stress, truancy among students, the availability of
the drugs and the ineffectiveness of the laws on drug trafficking.
Drug
abuse is the increasing desire to obtain and use increasing amounts of one or
more substances to the exclusion of everything else. Drug abuse affects the
body and mind of the user and often many of those around him or her. One
specific effect of drug abuse is the creation of physical drug dependence; however, dependence on
the drug is not required for drug use to be considered drug abuse. In favourable circumstances, alcohol
will not merely reduce tension and anxiety but suppresses them entirely. The
anxiety suppressing action of alcohol is commonly seen in the gradual removal
of social inhibitions. Shy people become outgoing or bold; well-behaved people
become disorderly, the sexually repressed become amorous, the fearful become
brave the quiescent or peaceful become verbally or physically aggressive (Kesel
and Walton, 1982).
Other physical behavioural manifestation of mild intoxication are slurred
speech, unsteady gait, disturbed sensory perceptions and inability to make fine
discriminations. When these occur in a social getting in which allows for
sexual activity or is atleast on eventuality rape may probably occur. While this
state can incite rape in males, the females in this condition might not be able
to discern an impending rape attempts. Koss and Wisniewski (1987) reported that
80% of the rapes that occurs on campuses are committed by someone whom the
victim is acquitted, hence the name acquaintance rape. Although acquaintance
rape has been linked to alcohol consumption on campuses. This relationship has
received little attention. Muehlenhand and Linton (1988) for example found
t5hat 15% of the college women they surveyed had experienced unwanted sexual
intercourse on a date.
Most worrisome is the existence of rape myths which makes people who believe in
them insensitive to sexual victimization experienced by others, or even
themselves, and the less likely they are to take effective steps to prevent
rape. The magnitude and importance of the problems of alcohol consumption and
acquaintance rape are insufficiently appreciated. Its impact facts not only on
the victims of alcohol or rape but on a wide circle of family and friends. Its
social reverberation affect accidents, sexual assaults and crime rates, school
drop out, unemployment etc. it is the serious havoc which acquaintance rape can
wreak on the society that quicken ones interest in researching on this issue. This
research therefore, intends to investigate the interrelationship between
alcohol consumption and acquaintance rape plus its effects in tertiary
institutions and the society at large.
TYPES OF DRUGS ABUSED BY
YOUTH
Several
types of drugs are susceptible to abuse by youth. These drugs range from most
common and less expensive such as cigarettes and alcohol to expensive and more
deadly such as cocaine and heroin.
Cigarettes - these are drugs easily available to youth. They are classified as drugs because the contain nicotine and it has physical and psychological effects on the body. Cigarettes are addictive and they cause lung disorders such as cancer.
Alcohol - Beer, wine, brandy and spirits are in the drug category mainly because of their chemical contents and potential for addiction. Alcohol has a toxic and sedative effect on the body and is available without prescription. It is a central nervous system depressant and its consumption can cause a number of marked changes in behaviour.
Cigarettes - these are drugs easily available to youth. They are classified as drugs because the contain nicotine and it has physical and psychological effects on the body. Cigarettes are addictive and they cause lung disorders such as cancer.
Alcohol - Beer, wine, brandy and spirits are in the drug category mainly because of their chemical contents and potential for addiction. Alcohol has a toxic and sedative effect on the body and is available without prescription. It is a central nervous system depressant and its consumption can cause a number of marked changes in behaviour.
Caffeine -
This is usually abuse through the excessive chewing of cola-nut or concentrated
coffee. It is the active ingredient of coffee, tea and some bottled beverages.
Marijuana - Also popularly called Indian hemp, is a drug that contains tetrahydrocannabinol, (THC) which determines its potency varying from 0.2% to 20%. It is a hallucinogenic stimulant, and is usually produced locally.
Hydrocarbons - Glue, gasoline, cleaning solutions, varnish, paint thinners, nail polish remover, and lighter fluids, all distilled from petroleum and natural gas, belong to the class of hydrocarbons. They are usually inhaled or sniffed.
Cocaine - Cocaine is one of the most potent stimulants of natural origin. It is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant grown in the Andean highlands of South America. Illicit cocaine is usually distributed as a white crystalline powder, often diluted by a variety of ingredients. The drug is usually administrated by snorting through the nasal passages.
Marijuana - Also popularly called Indian hemp, is a drug that contains tetrahydrocannabinol, (THC) which determines its potency varying from 0.2% to 20%. It is a hallucinogenic stimulant, and is usually produced locally.
Hydrocarbons - Glue, gasoline, cleaning solutions, varnish, paint thinners, nail polish remover, and lighter fluids, all distilled from petroleum and natural gas, belong to the class of hydrocarbons. They are usually inhaled or sniffed.
Cocaine - Cocaine is one of the most potent stimulants of natural origin. It is extracted from the leaves of the coca plant grown in the Andean highlands of South America. Illicit cocaine is usually distributed as a white crystalline powder, often diluted by a variety of ingredients. The drug is usually administrated by snorting through the nasal passages.
Crack -
This is a street name for a chemical directive of cocaine in hard, crystalline
lumps. It is heated and inhaled as a stimulant. Youth usually go for this
because it is less expensive than cocaine
Heroin:
Heroin was first synthesized from morphine with a bitter taste. Illicit heroin
may vary in both form and color, from white to dark brown. Heroin is about
three times more potent than morphine, and it is readily available in Nigeria. The
danger of drug abuse has been defined as "a state of periodic or chronic
intoxication, detrimental to the individual and society, of a drug." The
major indication of drug addition is the irresistible desire to take drugs by
any means. Physical dependence manifests
itself when drug intake is decreased or stopped resulting in withdrawal
syndrome, which leads to a very distressing experience. Psychological
dependence is experienced when an abuser relies on a drug to produced feeling
of well being. Animals, no less than man, inherit powerful
instinctive drives to preserve their life and liberty, but the pursuit human
characteristics. Therefore, man has been in search for drugs to facilitate this
pursuit (Britainnical, Vol. 13 1998). People do not usually drink pure alcohol but a
beverage containing alcohol, specifically ethyl alcohol. Alcohol beverages
include wines, beers and spirits. Alcohol is a depressant, dulling the cortical
functions of memory, learning, judgment, reasoning, comparison and
classification (encyclopedia of Psychology, Vol. 1 pp 14). Alcohol has an
anesthetic or depressant effect on the central nervous system. It is a class of
drug that act upon the nervous system by depressing or dulling human functions
of learning. Ordinarily, the respondents ascertain that small quantity of
alcohol in esopectation of reducing feelings of tension, relieving feelings of
anxiety and conversely obtaining feelings of gaity and exhilaration. The
increasing rate at which alcohol is consumed is poses tragic consequences such
as cultism, thuggery, accidents and rape just to mention some.
Rape described the act of forcefully having sex with a woman who is or may not
be your wife against her will by threatening her or using violence. The legal
definition of rape as stated in Britannica Vol. 16 is “the performance of
sexual intercourse by a man other than her husband with a woman against her
will by force or fraud”. Acquaintance rape has become more prevalent than ever
before, very few woman and girls report these incidences of acquaintance rape,
thus a high proportion of rapist escape conviction for a variety of reasons
(Abbey 1991). In acquaintance rape or any other type of rape the victim may
experience feelings including; shock, disbelief, denial, guilt shame, fear,
anger, rage. She could also experience, headaches, fatigues; severe injuries
could be sustained and could result in sexually transmitted diseases like
HIV/AIDS. All of the above effect together with effects of alcohol consumption
conspire to make alcohol consumption and acquaintance rape social problems that
demands immediate attention. Already government has spent millions of naira in
checking its effects on the society. This study will provide for deeper insight
into the prevailing contributing factors, experiences and effects of rape.
CHAPTER
TWO
CONSEQUENCES
OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG OUR YOUTH
Young people who persistently abuse substances often
experience an array of problems, including academic difficulties,
health-related problems (including mental health), poor peer relationships, and
involvement with the juvenile justice system. Additionally, there are
consequences for family members, the community, and the entire society.
Declining
grades, absenteeism from school and other activities, and increased potential
for dropping out of school are problems associated with adolescent substance
abuse. Hawkins, Catalano, and Miller (1992) cite research indicating that a low
level of commitment to education and higher truancy rates appear to be related
to substance use among adolescents. Cognitive and behavioral problems
experienced by alcohol- and drug-using youth may interfere with their academic
performance and also present obstacles to learning for their classmates (Bureau
of Justice Statistics, 1992).
Injuries
due to accidents (such as car accidents), physical disabilities and diseases,
and the effects of possible overdoses are among the health-related consequences
of teenage substance abuse. Disproportionate numbers of youth involved with
alcohol and other drugs face an increased risk of death through suicide,
homicide, accident, and illness.
The
Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) study -- in a representative sample of
hospitals throughout the United States -- reports trends in people seeking
emergency department treatment related to illegal drug use or nonmedical use of
legal drugs. Preliminary 1994 estimates indicate drug-related emergency
department episodes for youth ages 12 to 17 increased by 17 percent from 1993
to 1994. This increase was greater than for any of the older age groups
reported. Significantly, emergency department visits related to
marijuana/hashish for youth ages 12 to 17 increased 50 percent between 1993 and
1994 (McCaig, 1995). Ninety-one youth between the ages of 12 and 17 died of
drug abuse in 1993 (Office of Applied Studies, 1994).
Transmission
of HIV/AIDS primarily occurs through exposure to body fluids of an infected
person during sexual contact or through sharing of unsterile drug-injection
equipment. Another primary means of transmission is from mothers to infants
during pregnancy or the birth process. Many substance-abusing youth engage in
behavior that places them at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS or other sexually
transmitted diseases. This may include the actual use of psychoactive
substances (particularly those that are injected) or behavior resulting from
poor judgment and impulse control while experiencing the effects of
mood-altering substances. Rates of AIDS diagnoses currently are relatively low
among teenagers, compared with most other age groups. However, because the
disease has a long latency period before symptoms appear, it is likely that
many young adults with AIDS were actually infected with HIV as adolescents.
Although
alcohol-related traffic fatalities for youth have declined, young people are
still overrepresented in this area. In 1995 alone, more than 2,000 youth (ages
15 to 20) were killed in alcohol-related car crashes (National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, 1997).
These
limited examples illustrate the catastrophic health-related consequences of
substance abuse among adolescents. Besides personal and family distress,
additional healthcare costs and loss of future productivity place burdens on
the community.
Mental
health problems such as depression, developmental lags, apathy, withdrawal, and
other psychosocial dysfunctions frequently are linked to substance abuse among
adolescents. Substance-abusing youth are at higher risk than nonusers for
mental health problems, including depression, conduct problems, personality
disorders, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, and suicide. Marijuana use,
which is prevalent among youth, has been shown to interfere with short-term
memory, learning, and psychomotor skills. Motivation and psychosexual/emotional
development also may be influenced (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1992).
Substance-abusing
youth often are alienated from and stigmatized by their peers. Adolescents
using alcohol and other drugs also often disengage from school and community
activities, depriving their peers and communities of the positive contributions
they might otherwise have made.
In
addition to personal adversities, the abuse of alcohol and other drugs by youth
may result in family crises and jeopardize many aspects of family life,
sometimes resulting in family dysfunction. Both siblings and parents are
profoundly affected by alcohol- and drug-involved youth (Nowinski, 1990).
Substance abuse can drain a family's financial and emotional resources (Bureau
of Justice Statistics, 1992).
The
social and economic costs related to youth substance abuse are high. They
result from the financial losses and distress suffered by alcohol- and
drug-related crime victims, increased burdens for the support of adolescents
and young adults who are not able to become self-supporting, and greater
demands for medical and other treatment services for these youth (Gropper,
1985).
There
is an undeniable link between substance abuse and delinquency. Arrest,
adjudication, and intervention by the juvenile justice system are eventual
consequences for many youth engaged in alcohol and other drug use. It cannot be
claimed that substance abuse causes delinquent behavior or delinquency causes
alcohol and other drug use. However, the two behaviors are strongly correlated
and often bring about school and family problems, involvement with negative
peer groups, a lack of neighborhood social controls, and physical or sexual
abuse (Hawkins et al., 1987; Wilson and Howell, 1993). Possession and use of
alcohol and other drugs are illegal for all youth. Beyond that, however, there
is strong evidence of an association between alcohol and other drug use and
delinquent behavior of juveniles. Substance abuse is associated with both
violent and income-generating crimes by youth. This increases fear among
community residents and the demand for juvenile and criminal justice services,
thus increasing the burden on these resources. Gangs, drug trafficking,
prostitution, and growing numbers of youth homicides are among the social and
criminal justice problems often linked to adolescent substance abuse
Cause of drug abuse among our youths.
A drug can be said to be any
substance use in medicine. It can also be said to be any substance taken by
some people to get certain effect, such as happiness and excitement. Driving
from these definitions above, drugs can be classified into two categories;
v The
soft Drug e.g antibiotics and analgesics. and
v The
hard drugs e.g cocain, marijuana heroin
e.t.c. Consequently, a drug addict is said to be someone whose life has become
dependent on drugs,hence drug abuse
CHAPTER
THREE
EFFECT OF DRUG ABUSE ON OUR YOUTH
Drug
abuse at any age can cause serious health effects, but teens who abuse drugs
are at particular risk for negative consequences. Teens who abuse drugs are
more likely to struggle with addiction later in life and have permanent and
irreversible brain damage. Some other common negative effects of teen drug
abuse are:
Emotional problems.
Drug abuse can cause or mask emotional problems such as anxiety, depression,
mood swings, suicidal thoughts and schizophrenia. In fact, among teens with
major depression, 34.6 percent report using drugs. Unfortunately, drug use can
also increase the severity of these emotional problems. For example, teens that
use marijuana weekly double their risk of depression and anxiety.
Behavioral problems.
Teens who abuse drugs have an increased risk of social problems, depression,
suicidal thoughts and violence. According to a recent survey by the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, teens who abuse drugs are more
likely than teens who don’t abuse drugs to engage in delinquent behaviors such
as fighting and stealing.
Addiction
and dependence. Studies prove that the younger a person is when they begin
using drugs the more likely they are to develop a substance abuse problem and
relapse later in life.
Risky sex.
Teens that use drugs are five times more likely to have sex than teens who
don’t use drugs. Teens that use drugs are also more likely to have unprotected
sex and have sex with a stranger. This leads to higher risks of STDs, teen
pregnancy and sexual assault.
Learning problems.
Drug abuse damages short-term and long-term memory and can lead to problems
with learning and memory later in life.
Diseases.
Teens who abuse drugs with needles increase their risk of blood-borne diseases
like HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis B and C.
Brain damage.
Drug abuse among teens can result in serious mental disorders or permanent,
irreversible damage to the brain or nervous system. Brain damage among teens
who abuse drugs includes brain shrinkage; impaired learning abilities; amnesia
and memory problems; impaired reasoning, perception and intuition; increased or
decreased socialization; and changes in sexual desire.
Car accidents.
Teenagers who abuse drugs are more likely to be involved in car
accident-related injuries or death. One study showed that 4 to 14 percent of
drivers who are injured or die in traffic accidents test positive for THC.
Teen Drug Treatment
If
you know a teen who is abusing drugs, don’t wait to intervene. The sooner your
teen gets help for drug abuse, the more likely they’ll be to avoid the
long-lasting consequences. Fortunately, there are many different teen drug
rehabs to choose from. The most effective teen drug rehab, however, may be a
residential treatment program. Here your teen will have access to 24/7
supervision and care, detoxification, dual diagnosis treatment and a variety of
holistic treatments based on their individual needs. Talk to a medical doctor
about your teen’s symptoms and determine which type of drug abuse treatment is
best for your teen.
Effect of Drug Abuse on the Body
A
person who abuses drugs may not realize they have a problem until pronounced
effects of drug abuse are seen, often physically. While drug abuse effects on
the body vary depending on the drug used, all drug abuse negatively impacts
one's health. Common effects of drug abuse on the body include sleep changes
and decreased memory and cognitive abilities.
·
Abnormal vital signs like respiration, heart
rate and blood pressure
·
Chest or lung pain
·
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain
·
Skin can be cool and sweating or hot and dry
·
Diseases such as hepatitis B or C, or HIV
from needle-sharing
·
Impotence
·
More frequent illnesses
·
Frequent hangovers, blackouts
Psychological Drug Abuse Effects
·
One of the primary effects of drug abuse can
be found within the definition of drug abuse
itself: an increasing, intense desire to use the drug above all else. Drug craving
can shift a person's entire mental focus to obtaining the drug. Side effects of
drug abuse then include preoccupation with where to get the drug, how to get
money for the drug, and where and when the drug can be used.
·
Psychological drug abuse effects commonly
include changes in mood. A person may be anxious, thinking about when they can
next use the drug, or depressed due to drug side effects.
Other
psychological drug abuse side effects include:
·
Aggressiveness or irritability
·
Selfishness
·
Hopelessness
·
Lack of pleasure from previously enjoyed
activities
·
Pressuring others into doing drugs
Drug Abuse Effects on Lifestyle
Drug
abusers choose drugs over all else; that includes family and friends. One of
the side effects of drug abuse is the loss of friendship and family due to
these choices. Families and friends have to watch as the drug abuser pulls away
and the effects of drug abuse ravage their body and mind. Moreover, one of the
side effects of drug use may be bizarre, out of character, behavior that further
separates the drug abuser from their loved ones.
The
effects of drug abuse can also include decreasing performance in work or
school. This decreased performance may lead to disciplinary action, expulsion
or dismissal, creating money problems and possibly even legal troubles.
Discontinuing participation in sports and giving up hobbies are other effects
of drug abuse.
Drug
abuse statistics and drug abuse facts are widely available but are thought to
understate the problems of drug abuse as drug behaviors have to be reported by
the users themselves. Drug abuse statistics are collected in surveys taken in
high school and door-to-door in some neighborhoods. While these provide useful
estimates, they are not thought to be the complete numbers.
Drug
abuse facts show heroin, methamphetamine and
prescription drug use and abuse is on the rise, while heavy cocaine use has
remained relatively steady. Drug abuse statistics show that between 600,000 -
700,000 people are regular cocaine users.
The effect of drug abuse on youth is going to
be viewed from three aspects.
v Social
aspect
v Financial
aspect
v Health
aspect.
Social Aspect-
the hard drug make the taker hyperactive at the point of taking this drug.This
make the taker to behave abnormally, contribute to immoralties such as armed
robbery, sexually transmitted diseases e.g HIV AIDS and many other sicietal
vices.
Financial Effects-
The person that so much addicted to drugs tend to spend more money on the
purchase of these drugs.This can make the taker to become bankrupt or start
searching for money by all means.This will eventually increase the problem of
the taker.
Health Effect- It
makes the taker becomes unstable .the taker tends to go mad and started
behaving abnormally. It infiltrate a lot of diseases into the system of the
taker and can eventually lead to death.
REMEDIES/SOLUTION TO DRUG ABUSE.
- Aggressive extinction of all the sources of these hard drugs including the farms where they are planted by a joint force of the UNO.
- Parents should monitor the kind of friends their children with and guide against bad company.
- Rehabilitation of the affected persons.
- Teaching the effects of drug abuse in schools.
- Continuos campaign against the use of hard drugs at the federal, state and local levels.
- Consent of a doctor should be sought before a prolong take of a particular soft drug.
- stiff penalty should be metted against anybody found dealing on hard drugs.
DRUG
ABUSE AND ADDICTION SIGNS,SYMPTOMS, AND HELP FOR DRUG PROBLEMS AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE
Some
people are able to use recreational or prescription drugs without ever
experiencing negative consequences or addiction. For many others, though,
substance use can cause problems at work, home, school, and in relationships,
leaving you feeling isolated, helpless, or ashamed.
If
you’re worried about your own or a friend or family member’s drug use, it’s
important to know that help is available. Learning about the nature of drug
abuse and addiction how it develops, what it looks like, and why it can have
such a powerful hold will give you a better understanding of the problem and
how to best deal with it.
Understanding drug use, drug abuse, and
addiction
People experiment with drugs for many
different reasons. Many first try drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time,
because friends are doing it, or in an effort to improve athletic performance
or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Use doesn’t
automatically lead to abuse, and there is no specific level at which drug use
moves from casual to problematic. It varies by individual. Drug abuse and
addiction is less about the amount of substance consumed or the frequency, and
more to do with the consequences of drug use. No matter how often or how
little you’re consuming, if your drug use is causing problems in your life at
work, school, home, or in your relationships you likely have a drug abuse or
addiction problem.
Drug addiction and the brain
Addiction
is a complex disorder characterized by compulsive drug use. While each drug
produces different physical effects, all abused substances share one thing in
common: repeated use can alter the way the brain looks and functions.
·
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.
·
If you
become addicted, the substance takes on the same significance as other survival
behaviors, such as eating and drinking.
·
Changes
in your brain interfere with your ability to think clearly, exercise good
judgment, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs.
·
Whether
you’re addicted to inhalants, heroin, Xanax, speed, or Vicodin, the
uncontrollable craving to use grows more important than anything else,
including family, friends, career, and even your own health and happiness.
·
The
urge to use is so strong that your mind finds many ways to deny or rationalize
the addiction. You may drastically underestimate the quantity of drugs you’re
taking, how much it impacts your life, and the level of control you have over
your drug use.
How drug abuse and addiction can develop
People
who experiment with drugs continue to use them because the substance either
makes them feel good, or stops them from feeling bad. In many cases, however,
there is a fine line between regular use and drug abuse and addiction. Very few
addicts are able to recognize when they have crossed that line. While frequency
or the amount of drugs consumed don’t in themselves constitute drug abuse or
addiction, they can often be indicators of drug-related problems.
·
Problems can sometimes sneak
up on you, as
your drug use gradually increases over time. Smoking a joint with friends at
the weekend, or taking ecstasy at a rave, or cocaine at an occasional party,
for example, can change to using drugs a couple of days a week, then every day.
Gradually, getting and using the drug becomes more and more important to you.
·
If the drug fulfills a
valuable need, you
may find yourself increasingly relying on it. For example, you may take drugs
to calm you if you feel anxious or stressed, energize you if you feel
depressed, or make you more confident in social situations if you normally feel
shy. Or you may have started using prescription drugs to cope with panic
attacks or relieve chronic pain, for example. Until you find alternative,
healthier methods for overcoming these problems, your drug use will likely
continue.
·
Similarly, if you use drugs
to fill a void in your life, you’re more at risk of crossing the line from casual use to drug abuse
and addiction. To maintain healthy balance in your life, you need to have other
positive experiences, to feel good in your life aside from any drug use.
·
As drug abuse takes hold, you may miss or frequently be late for work
or school, your job performance may progressively deteriorate, and you start to
neglect social or family obligations. Your ability to stop using is eventually
compromised. What began as a voluntary choice has turned into a physical and
psychological need.
The
good news is that with the right treatment and support, you can counteract the
disruptive effects of drug use and regain control of your life. The first
obstacle is to recognize and admit you have a problem, or listen to loved ones
who are often better able to see the negative effects drug use is having on
your life.
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.
COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DRUG ADDICTION
·
You’ve built up a drug
tolerance. You
need to use more of the drug to experience the same effects you used to attain
with smaller amounts.
·
You take drugs to avoid or
relieve withdrawal symptoms. If you go too long without drugs, you experience symptoms such as
nausea, restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety.
·
You’ve lost control over
your drug use. You
often do drugs or use more than you planned, even though you told yourself you
wouldn’t. You may want to stop using, but you feel powerless.
·
Your life revolves around
drug use. You
spend a lot of time using and thinking about drugs, figuring out how to get
them, and recovering from the drug’s effects.
·
You’ve abandoned activities
you used to enjoy,
such as hobbies, sports, and socializing, because of your drug use.
·
You continue to use drugs,
despite knowing it’s hurting you. It’s causing major problems in your life blackouts, infections, mood
swings, depression, paranoia but you use anyway.
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 on our youth
·
Drop in
attendance and performance at work or school
·
Unexplained
need for money or financial problems; may borrow or steal to get it.
·
Engaging
in secretive or suspicious behaviors
·
Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts,
and hobbies
·
Frequently
getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities)
Psychological signs of drug abuse on our youths
·
Unexplained
change in personality or attitude
·
Sudden
mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts
·
Periods
of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness
·
Lack of
motivation; appears lethargic or “spaced out”
·
Appears
fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason
In
conclusion it is important to reiterate the dangers of drug abuse in general
and to youth involved in it.
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Baumrind, D. (1991). The influence of parenting
style on adolescents, competency and
substances used. Journal of early adolescence, 11,
56-59.
Cohen, S., and Wilson-Brewer, R. (1991), violence
and prevention for young adolescents. The
state of the act of program evaluation: camegie
council on adolescent development.
Collins, N.L. (1998). Attachment styles, emotion,
regulation, and adjustment in
adolescence. Journal of personality and social psychology,
74, 1380-1397.
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