Substance Abuse: Drug Types, Alcohol, Tobacco, and More

A drug is a natural or synthetic substance which when taken into a living body affects the normal functioning or structure and it is used in the diagnosis, mitigation, treatment or prevention of a disease. Drug misuse is using a drug in a reason rather than its clinical use. On the other hand, drug abuse is the excessive or adoptive use of a drug for non-medical purpose e. g. alcohol, tobacco, khat.

People use drugs for different reasons, some due to peer pressure use drugs to fit in and be part of a group and end up using regularly or suffer major consequences from even one episode of alcohol or drug use. Some will use drugs to numb the emotional pain that they feel, and even like alcohol some use it to release the physical pain. Learners may use some kind of drugs for experimentations like alcohol. Youth want to be seen in a different level from their peers, hence they use drugs so as to make their own sub-culture even if it means to break the societal rules. When people have gone deep into medicine and drugs, sometimes to others it becomes a problem to seek help out of the addiction. This is caused by the fear of professional judgement, professionals with drug and alcoholic problem fear to be recognized and judged. Most of the have finance shortage therefore unable to seek help. Many also fear to be labeled a junkie, addict or alcoholic.

There is fear of lack of confidentiality among the counselors. The use of drugs follows different patterns, there is experimental use where young person’s exploration of drugs or alcohol and the effects of each. There is recreation use of drugs where alcohol and other drugs used for the purpose of enhancing leisure. Intensive use which is associated with heavier, more frequent or more harmful risk use. Also, there is a pattern in w which is called dependent use, this is where a young person finds it difficult to control or stop their use. Drugs are classified differently, some are said to be stimulants, these drugs accelerate the activity of the control nervous system and speed up the brain and also not only accelerates but also controls the nervous system. Kinds of these stimulants are caffeine, and nicotine. We have depressants, these drugs lower the neurotransmission levels which is to depress or reduce arousal or stimulation in various areas of the brain and such drugs are wine, and vodka. Some drugs are classified to be hallucinogens which alter the perception (awareness of surrounding objects and conditions) thoughts and feelings causing hallucinogens, sensations and images that seem real though they are not. Inhalants are most made up of everyday household items. other types of drugs are inhalants, they pose an effect of brief feeling of euphorbia. they are usually inhaled as gases or perfumes example aerosol sprays and nitrous oxide.

There are some drugs which are commonly abused and usually have an addiction effect. These drugs include alcohol. This particular drug goes directly from digestive system to the bloodstream of the user and spreads to the brain within a few minutes. Nicotine is another abused drug it is the most addictive in that once taken an individual develops an urge to use more with time, It causes long term health problems. Khat is a natural stimulant drug cultivated mostly in Africa and Yemen. It is normally chewed and has speed effects. Another commonly abused drug is heroin which is processed from morphine obtained from opium. it interferes with the brain’s ability to feel pain. Cocaine is a stimulant drug. It is usually in powder form obtained from cocoa plant. It is addictive and delusional. Drugs once taken by individual or ingested into their blood stream they usually have effect which range from permanent to temporal.

These effects include: Addiction. In this state makes an individual to experience an urge of continually using the drug and inability to stay a long period of time without consuming it. Another effect is depression in which the user develops a mood disorder ranging from sad feeling to loss of interest and general lack of interest. Impaired judgement whereby the drug user starts to make irresponsible and inappropriate decisions. There is decrease in performance of work as the user loses interest in their work leading to dismissal or job loss. There is increased high blood pressure due to high usage of dugs causing the user to retain water creating kidney problems. There is increased infertility in both men and women and usually if children are born of addictive parents there is possibilities of disabilities and disorders to these children.

Some users experience hallucinations whereby experiencing, seeing, hearing and feeling things that are delusional that do not actually exist In conclusion, drug and substance abuse has been a world hazard in the present and past times in our lives therefore a lot of effort has to be made so as to prevent spread in use of these hazardous drugs from affecting future generation. Prevention strategies has to be revisited to ensure a success in this control as well a perfection of existing prevention methods so as to ensure positive future plans.