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27 June 2010

Drug Addiction And Drug Abuse

The understanding of addiction and drug abuse is subjective and infused with the moral values of society or culture. For example, caffeine in coffee and tea is a drug used by millions of people, but because of its relatively mild stimulatory effects and because caffeine does not generally trigger antisocial behaviour in the user, drinking coffee and tea, despite the fact that caffeine is physically addictive, is not generally considered drug abuse. Even narcotics addiction is seen only as drug abuse in certain social contexts.

Reasons for taking drugs

People take drugs for many reasons: peer pressure, to get relief from stress, to increase energy, relax, relieve pain, escape reality, feel more self-esteem and for recreation. They may take stimulants to keep alert, or cocaine for the excitement that it produces. Athletes and bodybuilders may take anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass.

The effects of substance abuse can be felt at many levels: on the individual, on friends and family and on society. People who use drugs experience a wide array of physical effects other than those expected. The excitement of cocaine high, for instance, is followed by a "crash": a period of anxiety, fatigue, depression and an acute desire for more cocaine to alleviate the feelings of the crash.

Marijuana and alcohol interfere with motor control and are factors in many automobile accidents. Users of marijuana and hallucinogenic drugs may experience flashbacks, unwanted recurrences of the drug’s effects weeks or months after use. Sudden abstinence from certain drugs results in withdrawal symptoms. For example, heroin withdrawal can cause vomiting, muscle cramps, convulsions and delirium. With the continued use of a physically addictive drug, tolerance develops, i.e., constantly increasing amounts of the drug are needed to duplicate the initial effect.

Sharing hypodermic needles used to inject some drugs dramatically increases the risk of contracting AIDS and certain types of hepatitis. In addition, increased sexual activity among drug users, both in prostitution and from the disinheriting effect of some drugs, also puts them at a higher risk of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Many drug users engage in criminal activity, such as burglary and prostitution, to raise the money to buy drugs, and some drugs, especially alcohol, are associated with violent behaviour.

Drug use can disturb family life and create destructive patterns of codependency, that is, the spouse or whole family, out of love or fear of consequences, inadvertently enables the user to continue using drugs by covering up, supplying money or denying there is a problem.

Pregnant drug users, because of the drugs themselves or poor self-care in general, bear a much higher rate of low birth-weight babies than the average. Many drugs (e.g., crack and heroin) cross the placental barrier, resulting in addicted babies who go through withdrawal soon after birth, and foetal alcohol syndrome can affect children of mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy. Pregnant women who acquire the AIDS virus through intravenous drug use pass the virus to their infant.

Mental health expert Nirakar Man Shrestha mentions that cannabis and opium use in Nepal goes back several centuries but did not pose much of a problem in the past. Drug use began to be seen as a problem only since the mid-1960s and early-1970s with the influx of a large number of hippies.

The drug scene in Nepal is dominated by heroin and has affected youths, mainly in the urban areas. A number of measures, both on supply reduction and demand reduction, have been taken by the government together with non-governmental organisations. However, the number of drug users is on the increase. Many drug users become involved in high-risk behaviours in spite of their knowledge of the dangers. Therefore, it calls for a change in our strategies which must be based on a thorough understanding of human nature and its behaviour.

Health is the theme of this year’s world drug campaign, to be launched on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (June 26). The UN’s global campaign "Think health - not drugs" aims to inform the public, particularly young people, about the harmful effects those drugs under international control can have on their health. Drugs have the power both to improve and to damage health, depending on the type of drugs used, the quantity consumed and the purpose for which they are taken.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is being observed in Nepal, too, by organising a variety of programmes. Orientation against drug abuse, awareness raising, discussion on existing laws against drug abuse and child alertness programmes are being organised by the Ministry of Home. The government has been working to this end through the enforcement of a national policy against drug abuse and illicit trafficking since 2063 B.S.

Teenagers and young adults are particularly vulnerable to using illicit drugs. The prevalence of drug use among young people is twice as high as that found among the general population. At this age, peer pressure to experiment with illicit drugs can be strong because self-esteem is often low. Also, those who take drugs tend to be either misinformed or insufficiently aware of the health risks involved.

Governments, organisations and individuals in many developing countries have keenly participated in promotional events and large-scale activities, such as public rallies and mass media involvement, to promote the awareness of dangers associated with illicit drugs.

Leading a healthy lifestyle requires making choices that are respectful of the body and mind. To make these choices, young people need guidance from role models and need to get the facts about drug use. The international campaign provides young people and others with tools to educate themselves about the health risks associated with illicit drug use.

For those who are dependent on drugs, there is hope. Treatment and recovery are possible starting from the most problematic conditions. Drug dependence is a treatable disease, not condemnation to death or to persistent failure.

Treatment

In conclusion, the treatment of substance abusers depends upon the severity and nature of the addiction, motivation and the availability of services. Some users may come for treatment voluntarily and have the support of family, friends and the workplace.

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