DRUG ABUSE AND IT'S EFFECTS ON HUMAN LIFE

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

_Illiteracy

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

_Child abuse etc

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

#SAY_NO_TO_DRUG_ABUSE_SAY_YES_TO_FREE_DRUG_ABUSE_LIFE.

#SAY_NO_TO_DRUG_ABUSE_SAY_YES_TO_BETTER_LIFE.

#DRUG_ABUSE_IS_DANGEROUS_TO_THE_HUMAN_LIFE.

#STOP_DRUG_ABUSE.

#DRUG_ABUSE_CAN_END_LIFE.

Thank you.

Nurse Abdullahi Musa,

An advocator,

Drug abuse awareness campaigner,

From Sokoto-Nigeria.

Gmail:abdurrahmanmct08@gmail

08/02/2021.