Any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism’s physiology or psychology when consumed is known as a drug. Typically, drugs are distinguished from substances that provide nutritional support or food. In general, drugs alter the chemical state of a person’s body and mind.
However, the risks associated with the use of drugs is so enormous and could not be overlooked in society, as it contributes negatively to the wellbeing of society.
Drugs are categorized into three:
1. Medicines: As drugs change the chemical state of your body and/or mind, when you feel sick you are given some (good) drugs by your doctor to balance the chemical imbalance in your body to get you better.
2. Legal Addictive Drugs: Alcohol and tobacco are harmful yet legal in North America. They can cause damage to the body and mind.
3. Illegal Addictive Drugs: Many drugs fall into this category, part of which are marijuana (cannabis) – from the cannabis Sativa plant, cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, ketamine, nicotine, methamphetamine etc.
While no part of the world has given her support to the use of an illicit substance(s), but obviously, drugs are taken in every part of the world, due to the raging trafficking and abuse. Lately, it has been discovered that drug abuse transcends the age barrier as children at tender ages now get involved, while adolescents, youths and adults, even the aged take a didactic position.
Indeed, parents find it difficult to know when their children get involved in this act, not until they start noticing its effect on their physical or psychological being.
There have been researches on substances that contain drugs and part of the results are Codeine, Vicodin, and Oxycontin, commonly prescribed as a painkiller. Addicts get engaged in a whole lot of disgraceful and unhealthy acts like sniffing decayed gutter sand, decayed sewage, petroleum products and many more.
Effects Of Drug Abuse
Drugs make the abuser age faster, it causes lung cancer, rotten teeth, hair loss, physical dependence and addiction, insomnia, loss of appetite, irreparable damage to brain cells, loss of memory, irrational decision making, suicidal depression, nightmares, hallucinations, peer group alienation, lower skill, lower status job. Drugs lure the abusers to criminal acts, especially when they are financially handicapped, they can steal to get money. In our colleges, 95 per cent of violent crimes reported, including sexual assaults, have been traced to drug abusers. And to the larger society, drugs cause violent crimes like terrorism, armed robbery, thuggery, banditry, kidnapping and others.
In 2018, the study found that the United States of America has the highest rate of illicit drug users in the world and according to a recent study, nearly 24 million people in the country abuse illicit drugs, and in 2012 alone 22,114 people died of a prescription drug overdose. At any given time, approximately 10 per cent of the US population is abusing drugs and alcohol, with multitudes of families, friends, neighbours, employers, and co-workers being directly affected.
In the case of South Africa, black tar heroin, possibly mixed with other substances, came into widespread use in 2009. This substance was given the name Whoonga (also known as Nyaope). Although Nyaope exists in different places across the country, it is concentrated in the impoverished townships of Durban and the people found in this illicit act are called Nyaope guys.
Marijuana is the most common drug used by addicts in Nigeria. Nevertheless, other drugs, especially orthodox medicine that contain substances discovered to have drug-like effects when overused, are also taken by abusers to satisfy their urges. Records from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) shows that 14.3 million Nigerians live under banned drugs.
In Vienna, Austria, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established to facilitate the sharing of information on drug menace among countries, and recently a report was published that 35 million people are suffering from disorders associated with the use and abuse of drugs
In June 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had a forum in Geneva, Switzerland, focusing on alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviour. With the success of the forum and towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 2030 health targets through enhanced partnerships and collaboration with the Forum on Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours (FADAB), another forum was organised by the organisation’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in June 2019. The target of the second forum was to enhance public health actions by strengthening partnerships and collaboration among public health-oriented organisations, networks and institutions.
The third WHO FADAB held in June 2021 was aimed at reducing the health and social burden due to the use of alcohol, psychoactive drugs and addictive behaviours. Built upon the success of the first and second WHO Forums, it was envisaged to boost international activities led or implemented by WHO, as there is the need to accelerate public health actions through enhanced international collaboration and partnerships.
Though there is no particular way or guaranteed way to prevent someone from abusing drugs, however, these are a few tips to prevent substance abuse.
1. Understand how substance abuse develops
Substance abuse starts by using addictive drugs (illicit or prescribed) for recreational purposes and seeking out intoxication every time.
2. Avoid temptation and peer pressure
Develop healthy friendships and relationships by avoiding friends or family members who pressure you to use illicit substances. It is often said “we become most like those we surround ourselves with” meaning if you surround yourself with people who abuse drugs and alcohol you are more likely to use it as well.
3. Seek help for mental illness
Mental illness and substance abuse often go hand-in-hand. If you are dealing with a mental illness such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, it is important to seek professional help from a therapist or counsellor. A professional will provide you with healthy coping skills to alleviate your symptoms without turning to drugs and alcohol.
4. Examine the risk factors
Look at your family history of mental illness and addiction. Several studies have shown that this disease tends to run in the family, but can be prevented. The more you are aware of your biological, environmental and physical risk factors, the more likely you are to overcome them.
5. Keep a well-balanced life
People often turn to drugs and alcohol when something in their life is missing or not working. Practising stress management skills can help overcome these life stressors and live a balanced and healthy life. It is also important to develop goals and dreams for one’s future to help focus on what one wants and realise that drugs and alcohol will simply get in the way and hinder achieving goals.
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