This document discusses substance abuse and the most commonly abused drugs. It defines substance abuse as the excessive use of psychoactive drugs like alcohol, pain medications, or illegal drugs which can lead to physical, social, or emotional harm. The most common abused substances are outlined as marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, tobacco, and prescription opioids. Each drug is then described in terms of its physical and mental effects on the body along with potential health risks of long term use. Measurement techniques for detecting levels of THC, blood alcohol content, and cocaine in drug tests are also mentioned.

1. SUBSTANCE ABUSE
BY: S NIKHIL
Mtech(chemical)

2. DEFINITION:
 Excessive use of psychoactive drugs such as Alcohol, Pain
Medications (or) illegal drugs. It can lead to physical, social or
emotional harm.
 Peer pressure is a strong factor in starting to use and misuse
drugs.

3. MOST COMMON ABUSED DRUGS:
 MARIJUANA (Cannabis)
 ALCOHOL
 COCAINE
 TOBACCO
 PRESCRIPTION DRUGS(OPIATES)

4.  1. MARIJUANA :
It can lead to distorted perceptions, impaired coordination as well as
difficulty with thinking , problem solving, learning & with memory.
 Marijuana is a mind-altering psychoactive drug, produced by the sativa plant.
 Marijuana has over 480 constituents. THC(delta-9-tetrahydocannabinnol) is
believed to be the main ingredient that produces the psychoactive effect.
Physical symptoms:
Dry mouth, Increase Appetite, Bloodshot Eyes, Delayed Reactions,
Persuasive Sleepiness, Coordination Problems.

5.  2. ALCOHOL :
The excessive use of alcohol leads to the development of chronic diseases
and other serious problems including : High Blood pressure, Heart diseases,
Pancreatitis, liver diseases and digestive problems. Alcohol can have on a person will
vary, includes age, health status. Mostly abused substance is this Alcohol.
Physical symptoms:
Headache, Severe Dehydration, Sweating, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea,
Indigestion.

6.  3. COCAINE :
This is a central nervous system stimulant mainly used recreationally for its
euphoric effects. Cocaine stimulates the reward pathway in the brain. Its mental
effects may include an intense feeling of happiness, loss of contact with reality.
 Cocaine also uses during surgery on the throat or inside the nose to control pain.
Physical symptoms:
Dilated Pupils, Fast Heart Rate, Sweating, High Blood Pressure, High Body
Temperature, Numbing.

7.  4 TOBACCO :
This contains the highly addictive stimulant and depressant drug i.e,
alkaloid nicotine as well as harmala alkaloids. It can lead to lung cancer, chronic
bronchitis & Emphysema. Increase in the risk of heart disease ,cancer, leukaemia
cataracts , type 2 Diabetes.
Physical symptoms:
Bad Breath, Reduction in Senses of Taste and Smell, Coughing, Anxiety
and Irritability.

9.  5 PRESCRIBED DRUGS (OPIATES) :
Physical symptoms:
Bad Breath, Reduction in Senses of Taste and Smell, Coughing, Anxiety
and Irritability.

10. Measuring
 The marijuana test will be positive if the amount of THC in the sample is
more than 50 ng/mL.
 By using a breathalyser the blood alcohol content can determine.
 The cocaine test will be positive if the amount of sample is more than 50
to2000 ng/mL.