DRUG ABUSE

DRUG ABUSE
Becomes associated with physical, psychological, social or legal harm.
There are other forms of abuse.Drug misuse: inappropriate use
Drug dependence – A state, psychic or physical, resulting from the adaptation of the body to presence of a drug of abuse characterized by behvioural and other responses that always include a compulsion to take drug on a continuous of periodic basis in order to experience no discomfort of its absence.
Drug abuse is an important factor in disruption of family and social relationships. Drug abuse could lead to: accidents, crimes, violence, and disease and illness suicide.
Heavy drinking is a risk factor for disease. The cost of mobility, mortality and damage to vehicles and properties associated with the consumption of alcohol in developing countries is far larger than all aids from various sources.
Drug abuse and institutions of learning. This is a key factor in academic and social problems in secondary and tertiary institutions, in addition to “cultism: students who abuse drug are likely to perform poorly. Sometimes they dropout of school. It is a pity that the effectiveness of the response to the drug problem varies from country to country.

The drugs that are commonly abused in Nigeria are Alcohol, valium and lexotan, cocaine, hearoin after drinking alcohol it is quickly absorbed into the blood stream. The blood alcohol concentration depends on
a. The amount consumed in a given time
b. The drinker’s size, sex and metabolism
c. The type of alcohol and the amount of food in the stomach
On the average adult, alcohol is metabolized at the rate of 85gms per hour, also depending on sex, size and genetic factors. Susceptible individual’s wants to repeat the drug using experience and a majority for these individuals will continue to abuse the drug. Natural rewards such as food, water sex, and nurturing allow humans and other organism to feel pleasure when eating, drinking, procreating and being nurtured. Such pleasurable feelings reinforce the behaviour so that it will be repeated. Each of this behaviour is essential for the survival of the species. All drug of abuse stimulate the brain reward entry to produce pleasurable feelings.
The intensity of the pleasurable feelings depends on how strongly a particular drug of abuse stimulates the brain reward centre. The intensity of pleasurable effect produced by a drug of abuse is referred to as its reinforcing effect or addition potential.


Problems associated
· Pyhsical health problems
· Cognitive deficits psychological problems
· Legal problems
· Employment/School problems
· Spiritual problems.

Prevention: Drug abuse prevention is an entire intervention process towards discouraging, stopping and management of drug abuse like alcohol, tobacco, tea, kolanut, etc. prevention is an on-going process that must relate to each emerging generation drug abuse prevention is the promotion of appropriate lifestyles and norms that discourage drug use. Then development of social and physical environments that facilitate drug free life style.

One thing is certain, before an effective drug abuse prevention programme for a community or society can be set up, there has to have been a sufficient awareness based upon the trends of drug abuse, the target population or the prone population and the factors which are the most prominent in causing drug abuse. These among others form the bedrock for planning and implementing an effectice prevention strategy or programme.

We can point out various factors which have been demonstrated to inevitably lead to non-medical use of drugs at either a group or individual level. A number of these factors are social, political, cultural, psychology etc in nature. Each target population has its own peculiarities.

In conclusion, I must say that everyone should be involved in the development, planning and implementation of any drug abuse prevention programme. In order to plan a prevention programme for an identified population, the age sex, socio economic characteristics and geographical distribution should be described.

If the drug problem is ever to be solved, it must be addressed segments and levels of society.

The fight against drug abuse is a community concern that requires a community response. The problem must be faced in the homes, schools, shops, the play grounds, workshops in the youth clubs and any other meeting places. In order to cut across and to meet the needs of all these segments, school administrators, businessmen, labour leaders, police and custom officers, youth clubs, leaders, parents and social workers, need to develop a total commitment and dedication to the cause, other wise, many of our people will perish.