ADDICTION
Addiction comes from the word addict
Addicts are people who fail to stop doing something or taking in substance
or drugs.
This can be either physical or psychological.
ADDICTION IN SUBSTANCE(DRUG)
ABUSE AND SEXUAL ABUSE
Some people take drugs and other substance when they are not ill. they use
them to change their mood.
This has brought more and great misery to many people. Drugs are often
habit forming (addictive) and used in excess can damage the body.
COMMON SUBSTANCE (DRUGS)
ABUSED AND ITS EFFECTS
Alcohol: it damages the liver, the brain, unborn child, stomach ulcers.
NOTE: alcohol is just a chemical substance found in beers, spirits and other local
brews. It makes people drunk and fall in a deep sleep. It has destroyed many
people, both the young and the old
DAGGA: Dagga has other names like cannabis, sativa, marijuana or bhang. It is
gotten from a dagga plant whose leaves are dried. Some people chew the leaves or
seeds of dagga that are dry to get its effects. Some of the effects are: dry mouth,
increases appetite, forgetfulness, brain damage, lung diseases and aggressiveness.
COCAINE
It is obtained from coco leaves and made into powder.
Cocaine can be sniffed or smoked to act its effect.
The drug increases the rate of heart beat, stomach pain, weight loss, severe
chest pains and bleeding from lungs
MANDRAX
This is a drug that causes a feeling of calmness and one feels sleepy.
it is made from a plant called mandraxe
the drug is used is made from rosts of a plant
it is taken in form of capsules or tablets. the tablets are crushed and smoked
with marijuana to get its effects. The drug causes dizziness, nausea,
discomfort of the mouth. When a Person does not get this drug, he or she
becomes unconscious.
PETROL AND GLUE
Petrol and glue are taken through inhaling. The substance is in vapour form and is
sniffed and thereafter breathed in.
AMPHETAMINES
This is stimulant drug; its effects are loss of appetite, brain damage, and fatigue
mental problem and among others.
HEROIN
This is a very strong drug from morphine. Morphine is a substance taken from
seeds of a puppy plant. Pure heroin is a white powder which tastes bitter. Heroin is
sniffed or smoked. It is also dissolved in water, heated and then injected in the
body through blood vessels. The person who uses it gets the effects after a few
hours. The effects include: skin rash, nausea and dry mouth. If used for a long
time, leads to convulsions, coma and death.
GENERAL EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Prolonged use of drugs can lead to the following effects on the body.
Intensive sleepless
Having deep sleep for a long time
Brain damage
It causes loss of memory, confusion, body tumors and madness.
Loss of appetite: this leads to poor health and loss of weight
Insomnia: this is when a person fails to get sleep especially at night.
Coma and death: a coma is a state of one being unconscious for a longtime
as a result of injury or serious illness.
Poor brain formation in the unborn babies if a pregnant woman takes the
drug.
Prolonged use of drugs leads to dependency of drugs.
Note: A person who is dependent on drugs is said to be drug addict.
Drug dependency is a situation in which one’s body get used to the drug and
cannot function well without it.
If makes an addict fail to face the problems.
loss of jobs due to too much abuse
Distraction to ones character
Broken families
Divorce
Stealing, fighting, imprisonment and the spread of dangerous diseases such
as gonorrhea, syphilis, cervical cancer and AIDS which are commonly
known as STIs
This world is not
our home
HELPING A SUBSTANCE ADDICT
The only drugs that are safe are those prescribed by a doctor or a health worker to
treat illness. Even these drugs can be dangerous if the doctor’s instructions are not
followed. Always make sure you understand how a medicine is to be used. Help
members of your family members who cannot read to follow instructions on
medicine bottles. Never take too much medicine or someone’s else medicine, it
may …………….your harm people must be taught that it is never sure to take
drugs or substances for non medical reasons. They must learn to say NO!
Many people think that when they use drugs they forget their problems. This is not
true. The following if willing may help you to stop abusing the drugs:
Avoid peer groups which use drugs
never take drugs to overcome a problem
Use your free time properly
Take people’s advice about dangers of drugs
Give love and care for drug addicts, do not reject them, but help them to get
out of this condition.
Identify the signs of abuse and get them for people to counsel them.
Feed them well and give them good shelter
Avoiding being idle by joining useful clubs such as music or drama clubs.
Don’t waste time take a step
Family and friends who have become substance addicts needs our support. They
should be encouraged to go to a drug clinic or to a group such as alcoholics
anonymous for help with their problem. Physical addiction can be treated by
withdrawing the drugs or by giving the addict a substitute, non – addictive drug.
During treatment addicts suffer withdraw symptoms they have shakes, stomach
cramps and pains in the joints and muscles. They often experience frightening
hallucinations.
Curing addiction is just part of the process. If no attempt is made to help with the
problems that first led to drug taking, the addict usually goes back to taking drugs
at the first opportunity. Addicts must be helped to take responsibility further lives,
so that they don’t feel the need to escape by using drugs. They must be encouraged
to take a positive part in the community and a participate in education, support and
work. It is important that family members accept each other’s weakness and are
surrounded by unconditional love for with God nothing is impossible Luke 1: 37.
Love you all, may God bless as you think of the step to take.
By Square Lungu from Zambia International
