DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Definition of terms:
-A drug is any substance other than food which changes the way the body or mind
functions.
-Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is a patterned use of a drug in which
the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to
themselves or others
Types of drugs
i) Stimulants (uppers)
-Speed up the brain and central nervous system.
Examples are
-caffeine (coffee, tea)
-nicotine (cigarettes)
-amphetamines,
-cocaine and diet pills.
ii) Depressants (downers)
-Slow down the brain and central nervous system.
-Examples are: alcohol, beer, wine, vodka, gin, heroin, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills.
iii) Hallucinogens
-These drugs alter the user’s state of consciousness.
-Distort auditory and visual sensations.
-Examples are: LSD, ecstasy, magic mushrooms, marijuana.
iv) ALCOHOL
-Alcohol goes directly from your digestive system into your blood and within minutes
spreads to entire body, including brain
-It spreads evenly throughout body-except brain which gets the highest concentration
because it gets more blood than any other part of body
-More blood equals more alcohol
-Intoxication (drunkenness) starts in the brain
Physical effects of Alcohol
-Co-ordination is impaired, clumsiness, slower reflexes
-High blood pressure, damage to the heart
-Liver damage
-If drinking when pregnant, FASD
-Life threatening when mixed with other drugs
Mental and emotional effects of alcohol
-Behave in ways that you normally wouldn’t
-Increase in aggressive and violent behaviour
-Problems with school and learning
ALCOHOL and the LIVER
-The liver removes poisons, including alcohol from the body
-People who drink regularly can have serious liver damage and may even get liver
cancer
-If the liver is damaged badly enough, it can stop working, leading to death.
iv) NICOTINE
What it does to your body, brain and behaviour
-depression
-lung cancer
-lung diseases
-heart disease
-skin becomes thinner and wrinkled
v) MARIJUANA
-Only takes few minutes for THC to get to brain when you smoke marijuana
-Eating takes longer to get to brain-passes through digestive system first
-In brain, activates “receptors” gives you the feeling of being high
-Marijuana changes physical and chemical balance in your brain
Short Term Effects of marijuana:
-Increase in heart rate, lead to anxiety and paranoia
-Distorted concept of time and space
-Decrease in concentration skills, short-term memory capacity
-Feeling tired after the “high” wears off
-Increase in appetite, weight gain
Long Term Effects of marijuana:
-Breathing problems
-Lung cancer
-Damage cells and tissues in the body that fight disease
-Lack of motivation
-Difficulty processing new information
-Marijuana and cigarette smoke have some of the same cancer-causing substances.
-Benzopyrene (cancer-producing agent) higher in marijuana
-400 chemicals in marijuana smoke affect lungs, throat and oesophagus
vi) INHALANTS
-Attract younger children, or adults who can’t afford alcohol or street drugs.
-Poverty, history of child abuse, poor grades and dropping out of school are associated
with inhalants
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TAKING INHALANTS
-lack of coordination
-dizziness
-euphoria
-difficulty speaking
-brain damage
-organ damage
-death caused by choking.
-high only lasts a few minutes, abusers inhale repeatedly and can lose consciousness
or die.
-Long term users show weight loss, muscle weakness, irritability, depression.
Vii) HEROIN
-Processed from morphine – obtained from opium poppy.
-Affects brain’s pleasure systems – interferes with brains ability to feel pain.
-is cut with other drugs or substances (sugar, starch, powdered milk).
-abusers don’t know actual strength of drug or true contents - high chance of overdose
or death.
-sharing needles and equipment cause other diseases and problems for users.
-leads to flushing of skin, dry mouth, collapsed veins, liver disease.
-additives don’t dissolve leading to clogs in blood vessels that lead to lungs, liver, kidney
or brain.
-tolerance develops with regular use – user needs more heroin to achieve same
intensity.
viii) COCAINE
-Cocaine is a stimulant drug-more alert and energetic.
-Cocaine is a white powder which comes from the leaves of coca plant.
-400 chemicals in marijuana smoke affect lungs, throat and oesophagus
-Can be one of the hardest drugs to quit.
-Cocaine makes people feel energetic, talkative, alert and euphoric.
-More aware of senses (increases sound, touch, sight and sexuality).
-Reduces hunger and need to sleep.
-High doses cause panic attacks, psychotic episodes (paranoia), violent behavior.
-Blood vessels thicken and constrict, reduce flow of oxygen to heart.
-Heart muscles work harder can lead to heart attack or stroke.
-Raises blood pressure, can explode weakened blood vessels in brain.
-Small amount can lead to overdose.
-Overdose can cause seizure or heart failure.
-Damage tissues in nose, cause hole in nose
-Damage lungs-severe chest pains, breathing problems, high temperatures
-Cocaine increases the same chemicals in the brain that make people feel good when
they eat, drink or have sex.
ix) PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
-Prescription drug abuse is using prescription medication in a way that isn’t prescribed
by a health care practitioner, or using someone else’s prescription.
-Kids as young as 12 are trying prescription drugs to get high.
-Teens think they are safer because they have been prescribed.
-Misuse of laxatives, diuretics and diet aids to improve personal appearance
-Mixing alcohol and prescription drugs to achieve and enhance a “high”
-Use of codeine cough syrup to achieve intoxication
-Misuse of stimulants to enhance performance
x) CLUB DRUGS
-Certain drugs have become popular among teens and young adults at dance clubs and
raves.
EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
-Spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C through sharing needles, or
having unprotected sex
EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE ON A CHILD
-Miscarriages
-Premature birth
-Low birth weight
-Birth defects
-Developmental problems
-A baby’s health problems, if caused by a drug will continue to grow as the child grows.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SOCIETY
CRIME
-drug possession
-drug use
-drug trafficking
-drug manufacturing
-theft
-break and enter
-robbery
-motor vehicle theft
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO ABUSE OF SUBSTANCES AND DRUGS
-Peer/Friends who use drugs (this is the number one predictor of who will experiment
with drugs/alcohol.
-to enhance performance, eg athletes.
-the need to experiment.
-ignorance and myths (you become a mathematics wizard etc)
-culture (eg in Binga its their culture to smoke marijuana.
-to relieve stress.
-to improve skin colour or appearance (skin enlightening cremes, appetite,
bums/breasts enlargement etc).
-availability (easily available) or having too much money to waste around.
-environment (staying in an environment where drugs are abused).
-adverts on mass media portraying these as very good for….., copying celebrities.
FAMILY MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS:
-poorly defined rules
-inconsistent application of rules
-lack of monitoring
-excessive discipline
-negative communication patterns
-poor anger management
-Parental drug use and a positive attitude toward use
-Academic Failure (low and failing grades)
-Little commitment to school
-Favourable attitude towards drug use
-Early first use of drugs
-Prenatal exposure to alcohol
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES TO ABUSE OF DRUGS
-Have positive future plans
-Employ healthy coping strategies to deal with stress
-Have positive attitude towards learning
-Have knowledge about risks associated with substance abuse
-Have positive relationships with adults
-Involvement in alternative activities, for instance sporting activities (an idle mind….
devil’s workshop).
-Sense of well being and self-confidence.
-offer guidance and counselling.
Waini mudadi, doro mupopoti ani naani unobatwa nazvo …..
