2nd Term
DRUG
USE AND DRUG ABUSE
Meaning
of drug abuse: drug abuse is the habitual taking of illegal drugs. It
is also the use of drugs contrary to prescription.
Types
of drugs and how they can be abused: Drugs are broadly
classified into (1) Legal Drugs: are meant to heal. Legal drug abuse often occurs with prescriptions
that individuals obtain from their physicians. Rather than follow the dosage
instructed, they take more. Patients often become
addicted to medications by accident as well. (2) Illegal Drugs: they are drugs that you are not supposed to use,
buy, or sell. They include the following Heroin, crack, cocaine, Hallucinogens, Amphetamines, Marijuana,
Causes
of drug abuse: (1)Peer pressure (2)Stress (3)Mental
illness
Signs
and symptoms of drug abuse: (1) Depression (2) Violence (3) Changes in personality and behavior like a lack of motivation,
irritability, and agitation
(4) Bloodshot
eyes and frequent bloody noses
(5) Shakes,
tremors, or slurred speech
(6) Change
in their daily routines
(7) Lack
of concern for personal hygiene
(8) Unusual
need for money; financial problems.
Behaviours
of drug addicts: (1) Increased aggression or irritability. (2) Changes in attitude/personality. (3) Lethargy
(4) Depression (5) Sudden changes in a
social network
(6) Dramatic
changes in habits and/or priorities
(7) Financial
problems (8) Involvement in criminal
activity
Agencies
against drug abuse
NDLEA: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is a
Federal agency in Nigeria charged with eliminating the growing, processing,
manufacturing, selling, exporting, and trafficking of hard drugs.it was founded
in 1990
NAFDAC: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is a
Nigerian federal
agency under
the Federal Ministry of Health that is responsible for regulating and controlling the
manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale and
use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and packaged water. It was formed in 1993.
Ways
of Preventing Drug Abuse: (1) Effectively deal with peer pressure. (2) Handle
stress by other means like exercise, reading, relaxing etc. (3) Seek help for
mental illness. Mental
illness and substance abuse often go hand-in-hand. Those with a mental illness
may turn to drugs as a way to ease the pain. Those suffering from some form of
mental illness, such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress
disorder should seek the help of a trained professional for treatment before it
leads to substance abuse. (4) Keep a well-balanced life. People take up
drugs when something in their life is not working,
or when they’re unhappy about their lives or the way their lives are going.
Look at life’s big picture, and set your priorities in order.
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