5. Drug abuse is a disorder
that is characterized by
a destructive pattern of
using a substance that
leads to significant
problems or distress.
6. What is Drug Addiction?
Drug addiction, also called substance dependence or chemical
dependency , is a disease that leads to significant problems
involving tolerance to or withdrawal from the substance, as well as
other problems that use of the substance can cause for the
sufferer, either socially or in terms of their work or school
performance.
7. What Types of Drugs are commonly abused?
Virtually any substance whose ingestion can result in a
euphoric (“high”) feeling can be abused.
Alcohol: It is classed as a depressant, meaning that it
slows down vital functions—resulting in slurred speech,
unsteady movement.
Amphetamines: This group of drugs comes in many forms,
from prescription medications. Its a synthetic, addictive,
mood-altering drug, used illegally as a stimulant.
Anabolic steroids: A group of substances abused by
bodybuilders and other athletes, can lead to terrible
psychological effects like aggression and paranoia,
infertility and organ failure.
8. Types of Drugs (con’t)
Caffeine: While it is consumed by many, coffee,
tea and soda drinkers, when consumed in excess
this substance can produce, insomnia, and
significant anxiety.
Cannabis: More commonly called MARIJUANA.
It can produce infertility, paranoia, lack of motivation.
Cocaine: A drug that tends to stimulate the nervous
system, cocaine can be snorted in powder form,
smoked when in the form of rocks (crack cocaine),
or injected when made into a liquid.
Ecstasy: This drug tends to create a sense of euphoria
and an expansive love or desire to nurture others.
In overdose, it can increase body temperature to the
point of being fatal.
9. Types of Drugs (con’t)
Hallucinogens: These drugs can be dangerous in their
ability to alter the perceptions of the user. Mushroom
is an common natural occurring hallucinogen.
Inhalants: One of the most commonly abused group
of substances due to its accessibility, inhalants are
usually contained in household cleaners. It causes
Brain damage even to the point of death.
Nicotine: The addictive substance found in cigarettes,
nicotine is actually one of the most habit-forming
substances that exists.
10. ❖Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly.
❖Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug.
❖Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug.
❖Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it.
❖Doing things to obtain the drug that you normally wouldn't do,
such as stealing.
❖Feeling that you need the drug to deal with your problems.
❖Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the
influence of the drug.
❖Focusing more and more time and energy on getting and using the
drug.
Signs and Symptoms of DRUG
ABUSED
12. What causes DRUG
ABUSE
&
ADDICTION ?
Like many psychological disorders, drug
addiction and dependence depends on
several things. Two main factors include:
Environment. Environmental factors,
including your family's beliefs and
attitudes and exposure to a peer group
that encourages drug use, seem to play a
role in initial drug use.
Genes. Once you've started using a
drug, the development into addiction
may be influenced by inherited traits.
13. Effects of Drugs
on
Brain
Your brain produces chemicals that allow you
to feel emotions: happiness, pain, anger, and
depression. Some drugs input the chemical
that causes a feeling of extreme euphoria
(“High”). As you take more drugs, your brain
receives so much of this "happy chemical"
that it starts to create less of it.
Therefore, without drugs, you feel constantly
unhappy; you need the drug to feel joy. You
are compelled to take more to attain that
feeling. After a while, low-scale drugs like
marijuana will no longer provide you with the
joy you need, and you will find yourself
yearning for more joy and moving on to more
dangerous drugs such as crystal meth and
cocaine.
14.
15. What is the treatment for Drug Addiction
Screening. With just a few questions in an interview, practitioners can identify
patients who have alcohol or other drug (substance) use problems and determine
how severe those problems already are.
Brief Intervention. The intervention educates them about their substance
use, alerts them to possible consequences and motivates them to change their
behavior.
Brief Treatment. If individuals are at moderate to high risk, the next step is
brief treatment. Similar to brief intervention, this emphasizes motivations to
change and client empowerment, though it consists of a limited number of highly
focused and structured clinical sessions with the purpose of eliminating
hazardous and/or harmful alcohol and/or other substance use.
