DRUG ABUSE

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.

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.

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.

Academics

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).

Physical health

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

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).

Peers

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.

Families

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).

Social and economic consequences

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).

Delinquency

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.

Other common physical problems include:^{1 2}

·         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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