Alcohol and drug abuse

A drug is substances, which affects the body to modify its functions. There are drug, which affects mainly the mind, mood and behaviour and these are called psychoactive drugs. These are drugs that are commonly abused.

Examples are cigarette (nicotine.

• Alcohols- solvent (petrol spirit)
• Cannabis (Indian hemp)
• Heroin
• Kola nut and better kola

Drug/ substances abuse can be define as the use of any substances when:

1. Not medically necessary
2. The use is against the law (e.g. cannabis
3. It used excessively, even while being socially acceptable (e.g. alcohol)

Drug depending is characterised by:

1. A strong desire to continue to use the substances.
2. The need to increase the quantity taken, in order to have same effect.
3. Spending, much time and money in the use of the substance.
4. Development of discomfort when use of the substance ceases or is reduces.
5. Inability to stop using the substances even when it has caused harm to the individual’ health and social functioning.

Causes of addition (abuse)

1. Maternal deprivation as a result of war divorce, role, conflict or death.
2. Long term illness when the victim is placed on a form of drug fro a long, time e.g. fracture patient.
3. Pharmacological influence e.g. a pharmacist or nurse may have an access to drug; he/she may abuser this privilege.
4. Exposure to high-risk jobs and environment that encourage drug use e.g. bar attendants
5. Effects of social change (rapid urbanization)
6. Bad company and unemployment
7. Use of drug by parents.
8. Stresses associated with the desire to achieve in life.

Stages of developing dependence to alcohol and drug

Basically it has four (4) stages.

1. Stage of experience: this usually in the front contact with the drug and circumstance under which the drug is use varies. It may be used in group of friends (peer influence) at home or at other social setting. The drug is used at this stage with certain expectation such as relaxation, boldness and acceptances into the group. The actual pharmacological affect of the drug is felt since a relatively small dose is used continued use of the drug may be determined by factors such as the perceived effect of the drug (pleasant unpleasant) persuasive effect of peer group and available of the drugs.
2. Stage of frequently use: prevailing circumstances either at home. School or social setting may promote further frequent use of drug. Other contribution factors are drug availability. Cost and persisting environmental factors this stage the individual seeks the euphoric (an exaggerated feeling of physical and mental well being) affect of the drug establishes a reliable drug source, changes friends performs poorly in educational pursuits and show general lack of motivation.
3. Stage of obsessive use of the drug: the individual indulges in daily use of mind-altering, drug, family troubles increase problem with the law occur and disorder of mood such as depression occur.
4. Stage on inability to abstain from use: increasingly a level of the drug is needed to feel all right the individual manifests the physical and psychological symptoms and signs of drug abuse. His family life becomes a disaster while crime becomes a way of life for him in order to be able to purchase his drug of choice. At this point, the individual’s life revolves around his drugs choice and his is said to be depending on drugs.

Early warning signs of drug abuse

There are certain behaviour, which can help parents and care givers to suspect in good time when a person is using drugs. These are:

1. Sudden change in behaviour and mood
2. Sudden change and decline in attendances or performance at school or work.
3. Unusual temper flare-ups.
4. Increase borrowing of money from parent and friends.
5. Stealing at home, school or work place
6. Unexplained long absence from home.
7. Unnecessary secrecy
8. Changes in dressing and appearance.

 Common symptoms and signs of drug abuse

The symptoms and signs of drug abuse depend on the type of drug abused and the effects they have on the brain.

• Drug that stimulate the brain (e.g. kola nut coffee, amphetamine and cocaine) lead to the following symptoms

1. Poor sleep
2. Poor appetite
3. Restlessness
4. Increase sexual desire
5. Abnormal feeling of well-being
6. Unusual confidence or bravery
7. Increase in heat rate feeling of anxiety and irritability.

Ultimately they can lead to onset of several mental disorder (psychosis)

• Drugs that depress the brain (e.g. alcohol, heroin, valium, barbiturates) leads to:

1. Drowsiness
2. Physical weakness
3. Impaired concentration and memory
4. Lowered blood pressure
5. Lowering mood
6. Difficulty in breathing
7. Loos of consciousness (coma)

Drug such as cannabis can lead to abnormalities in the way people see hear and feel (i.e. disturbances of perception such as illusion and hallucinations)

Prevention and treatment 

Prevention and treatment is best done as 3 level that is primary secondary and tertiary level.

Primary prevention: it involve health education and counselling of individual and the public in order to prevent those who have not use drugs from getting involved in the habit preventive education should be directed at youth in schools clinic and hospitals on child development and love toward them. Also at place where school dropout hang out such as motor parks and other key group like market woman organization and social clubs who have controlling influence on young persons. Such prevention education could take the form of campaign conducted by primary health care workers in collaboration with health education social workers opinion leaders in the community and other relevant group

Secondary prevention: involves early identification and treatment in order to avoid the problem becoming prolonged or complicate. People with drug problem should be referred to trained drug counsellors in primary health care centres, schools and other appropriate places. If counselling is not adequate for the problem the patient should referred to trained drug counsellors in primary health care centres, schools and other appropriate place. If counselling is not adequate for the problem, the patient should referred to health workers such as doctors (preferable psychiatrist) working in secondary institutions

Tertiary prevention: involves re-integration of the individual into the community. This include suitable rehabilitation of treated patient to make them employed to have an income and those without skills to be trained to acquires skills in their occupation of interest (vocational training). During the treatment of drug victim, he should be treated comprehensively i.e. treated wholly with the wife, relatives and friend, making them realise the importance of accepting him in order to make his condition better because will make condition worse invariable, many drug abusers will make his condition worse. Invariable, many drug abusers who have become outcast sleep rough under bridges and are abandoned or live in uncompleted houses and live a life of crime.