Drug Abuse 101 - What You Absolutely Need to Know

Introduction

Due to the change in worlds social and economic pattern with so much of stressors and so less time for each other and even for oneself to get relaxed, there is a hug scope for the immature population to go for unnatural and short-lived pleasures which although might pose severe threat to ones own health and well being and even to life. Hence late teenagers and people in early twenties are those who are most prone to it as they both have reason and accessibility for the same.

Definitions

Drug abuse refers to self or peer medication of a drug in any amount or in any manner that cannot be medically or socially justified for its use.\r Drug addiction means the compulsive use of a drug, procuring it to take precedence over other activities.\r Drug habituation means less intense craving of the drug.

Problem statement

According to NIDA (national institute on drug abuse) the Monitoring the Future survey that is studying the trends since many years shows that there has been significantly decreased consumption of all the types of drugs except the inhalants. Although there has been decreasing trends but they are not at all satisfying as there are still a large number of teenagers specially the 8th graders who tend to get involved into this.

The problem with these types of drug is both direct and indirect. The direct effect of these drugs is for e.g. addiction, insomnia, hyper somnolence, increased reaction time and so on and so forth. But the indirect ones are equally dangerous for e.g. easy prey to AIDS, Hepatitis B & C and other infectious diseases.

Cause of the problem, why abuse?

The root cause of the problem are manifold but the main causes are the teenagers with a history of drug abuse in the family, single parent family, economically or socially deprived children and surprisingly teenagers of Hispanic origin.

Types

There are many different types of drug abuse. These have traditionally been divided based on the action on the brain, chemical salt or the purpose for which it is used medically or socially. Some of these are:

a) Nicotine used in cigarette

One of most heavily used and the most damaging of the drugs. It damages not only the lungs and immunity but also the whole body. Known to be implicated in the causation on lung, ovarian, skin and certain other cancers.

b) Cocaine

Known to have damaging effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems.

c) LSD

Causes hypertension, tachycardia and insomnia. Also disturbs the control of body temperature.

d) Marijuana

Has caused memory and learning disabilities.

e) Methamphetamine

Insomnia, anorexia, hyperactivity and psychosis are its major side effects.

f) Pain medications

Can lead to dependence and drug craving.

g) Club drugs & date rape drugs

Causes decreased muscle power and amnesia.

h) Steroids

In males causes certain feminine changes and vice versa in males besides causes overall retarded development.

Diagnosing drug abuse

Although the diagnosis of the abuse is not difficult at a full-blown stage but the important features at an early stage are the teenager becoming less social, poor performance at school, anorexia, unusual sleep pattern and weakness.

Problem solving

The main success lies in convincing the patient two things: first that the drug is not helping him or her in any way and secondly the drug abuse can be given up in a joint effort. Obviously that means managing the drug abuse needs both medical and social treatment.

Ronit khera writes about Alcohol and drug abuse by college students topics.

Drug Abuse Treatments
As treatment of drug abuse should suit the specific needs of the individual concerned, there is no one treatment that can be used in all cases. The ch...

The Dangers Of Prescription Drug Abuse And How To Get Help
Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem throughout the country. The basic reasons for abusing prescription drugs are much the same as abusing an...

The Definition Of Drug Addiction
Even though drug addiction is a complex disease, assigning a definition for that disease is actually quite simple. Drug addiction is, in its simplest...

Can Drug Rehab Efforts Let Up in Florida?
Did you know that nearly 10% of Florida's sixth graders binge drink? Did you know that percentage increases to 30% by the time the kids are in high sc...

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Stems From Childhood
Alcohol and drug abuse often has its roots embedded into a troubled childhood. They see themselves surrounded with vices before they develop the power...

Understanding Drug Abuse
Drug abuse and addiction occur when a person uses any form of drug for a purpose or way other than for which it was intended. Drug abuse is most commo...

Prescription Drug Abuse - What is Different about Prescription Drug Abuse Testing?
Prescription drug abuse is perhaps one of the most common forms of recreational drug use or drug addiction after alcohol and marijuana. Diet pills (sp...

GHB- Dangerous When Abused!
Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid, known as Ghb, is a drug that is used in the medical field as an anesthetic and to treat a variety of problems such as insom...

Objective Of Drug Rehab, Alcohol Rehab and Dual Diagnosis Programs
The main objective of drug rehab programs is to free you from the bondage of drug abuse and alcoholism. These programs help you to discover newer ways...

How to Choose a Drug Rehab or Alcohol Rehab Program
Drug addiction is defined as "the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs, to the point where the user has no effective choice but to continue use." Drug...

A Drug Rehab Program Makes Recovery Easier
Recovery from drug addiction can be very challenging and because of this, a drug rehab program provides someone the best chance at recovery. Admission...

MDMA, aka Ecstasy
MDMA is an acronym which stands for 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine, but MDMA is more commonly known as ecstasy. Ecstasy is also commonly refer...

A Drug Rehab and Dual Diagnosis Treatment
National statistics have shown that drug addicts and alcoholics who attend a long term addiction treatment and drug rehab programs, where their dual d...

Drug Rehab and Dual Diagnosis Treatment For You
Dual Diagnosis Information Dual diagnosis means that a person has two different illnesses. They have a mental health or behavioral condition, and they...

Home Drug Rehab Programs
Traditional and drug free rehab centers focus on drug recovery through in-patient and out-patient programs. This means that the drug addict will leav...