This document discusses drugs, drug abuse, and addiction. It defines drugs as substances that alter normal bodily function when absorbed into the body. Drug abuse is described as an intense desire to obtain increasing amounts of a substance, while drug dependence creates physical addiction and harm over time. The document categorizes common drugs as stimulants or depressants and explores reasons for drug abuse like peer pressure or using drugs to cope with problems. It notes that factors like genetics, personality, and environment can increase addiction risk. Treatment may involve therapy and withdrawal management to safely stop taking the addictive substance.

1. Hellen maluleka

2. Drugs –
What they Are and What they Do ?
A drug, is any
substance that,
when absorbed into
the body of a living
organism, alters
normal bodily
function. Drugs are
chemicals that
change the way a
person's body works
by altering emotions
and thoughts.

3. Drug abuse is an intense desire to obtain increasing amounts of a
particular substance. Drug dependence is the body's physical need, or
addiction, to a specific agent. Over the long term, this dependence
results in physical harm and behavior problems which causes tolerance
and cross tolerance. Thus, it creates a vicious cycle.

5. Two main Categories of Drugs
Stimulants
Cocaine
Crack cocaine
Amphetamines (methamphetamine,
ecstasy)
Nicotine

6. Two main Categories of Drugs
Depressants
Heroin
Marijuana
Barbiturates – Oxycodone,
Morphine, Codeine, Valium
GHB

9. Drug Abuse - Why do people start?
 Feel older  Feel cool  Feel different
 Peer pressure  Fit in  Fun
Media: advertising, TV, movies, music
 Friends / family  Relieve stress / relax
Idea that it’s easy to quit.
“just want to try it”
Social crutch: feel confident in social situations, something
to handle or hold
Deal with problems: escape, pressure, depression, boredom
Don’t know how to say no.

10. Legal drugs are not
necessarily safer. A study
in 2010 asked drug-harm
experts to rank various
illegal and legal drugs.
Alcohol was found to be
the most dangerous.
It is believed that
drug abuse only harms
the user but this
graph clearly depicts
that it not just harms
the person but
destroys the whole
family ,his profession,
and life.

11. These factors increase the likelihood of your having an addiction to a legal or
an illegal drug:
Personality: Children who exhibit aggression, a lack of self-control and a
difficult temperament may be at greater risk of drug addiction.
Social environment: Particularly for young people, peer pressure is a strong
factor in starting to use and abuse drugs. A lack of attachment with your
parents may increase the risk of addiction.
Anxiety, depression and loneliness: Using drugs can become a way of coping
with these painful psychological feelings.
Genetics: If you have family members with alcohol or drug problems, you're
at greater risk of developing a drug addiction.
Type of drug: Some drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, more quickly result
in physical addiction than do others.

12. Treatment: Breaking a drug addiction may involve support
from your doctor, family, friends and others who have an
addiction, as well as inpatient and outpatient treatment.
Therapy: Withdrawal therapy
The goal of withdrawal therapy (detoxification) is for
you to stop taking the addicting drug as quickly and
safely as possible. Detoxification may involve gradually
reducing the dose of the drug or temporarily
substituting other substances that have less severe side
effects. For some people it may be safe to undergo
withdrawal therapy on an outpatient basis. Other
people may require placement in a hospital or a
residential treatment center.

13. Both women and men abuse prescription drugs at approximately the same rate, however, women are twice as likely to become addicted as men. Specifically,
females between the ages of 12 to17 and 18 to 25 have shown the largest increase of prescription drug abuse over the past two decades (NIDA). In addition,
young girls aged 12 to 14 report that painkillers and tranquilizers are one of the most popular drugs used to get high.

15. www.mayoclinic.com
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MADE BY:Helen
Maluleka