MEANING OF DRUG/SUBSTANCE ABUSE

MEANING OF DRUG/SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Drug is defined as any chemical or biological substance, which when taken into body can change the functions of the body either for good or for bad.

Drug abuse is the action of taking hard drug without the prescription of a medical doctor.

It is also defined as the use of illicit drug or self-medication by individuals. The individual then depends on the following substances.

·        Alcohol

·        Cocaine

·        Opium

·        Alkaloid, which are harmful to the body this make the individual not to be normal except when he takes the substances excessively.

KINDS OF DRUGS

1.    Medical Drugs: Medical drugs are drugs taken for health reasons. It becomes abuse when taken without doctor’s directive.

2.    Narcotics: There are drugs, which produce a false sense to well being in the user e.g. marijuana.

3.    Stimulant Drugs: There are drugs that act on the central nervous system and produce some sensational effects on the brain, thereby causing increased activity, alertness and energy.

4.    Depressant Drugs: They are drugs that are used to reduce pains and anxiety to the user they include alcohol, Indian hemp. They can also cause brain damage, sterility and infertility.

WAYS BY WHICH PEOPLE ABUSE DRUGS

1.    Self medication

2.    Taking overdone or under dose

3.    Smoking of tobacco

4.    Drinking of alcohol

5.    Injecting of drugs

6.    Smoking of cocaine

7.    Drinking of expired drugs

8.    Sniffing

9.    Swallowing or eating.

 Evaluation Questions

1.    What is drug abuse?

2.    What do you understand by (i) Depressant drug and (ii) Narcotics?

3.    List any five ways by people abuse drugs.