Drug Abuse PDF

**DRUG ABUSE** **DRUG**: A drug is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of living organism, alters normal body function. Drugs can be used in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease. Some drugs are used to kill bacteria and help the body recover from infections. Some drugs...

**DRUG ABUSE** **DRUG**: A drug is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of living organism, alters normal body function. Drugs can be used in the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease. Some drugs are used to kill bacteria and help the body recover from infections. Some drugs assist in terminating headaches. Some drugs cross the blood--brain barrier and affect neurotransmitter function. Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body works by altering the emotions and thoughts. Drugs are used to treat or prevent disease, to reduce pain, to promote sleep and so on. Drugs are typically distinguished from food and substances that provide nutritional support. The word Drug is taken from French word 'Drogue' which means 'dry herb'. It suggests that the earliest drugs were taken out from plant sources. Earliest people used to treat diseases by some unconventional methods, using plants, animal products and minerals, of them plants were given priority. **ABUSE**: Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Drugs are processed by the body in four steps, and these drugs also may have various effects on each other when used together. First, "**administration"** refers to how the drug enters the body (e.g., ingestion \[swallowing\], inhalation \[smoking or vaporous\], injection \[intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous\], or absorption \[through skin\]. Most classes of drugs are used through several alternative methods. For example, marijuana may be smoked or swallowed. Methamphetamine may be smoked, swallowed, sniffed, or injected. Heroin may be sniffed, smoked, or injected. Depending on the method of administration, drugs generally exert their effects within an hour of intake (e.g., through ingestion) or within minutes or seconds of use (e.g., through injection). Second, ***distribution*** refers to how efficiently a drug moves throughout the body. Distribution is influenced by the size of the various drug molecules and their solubility -- protein, water, fat bound -- among other factors. As a general rule, the rate of entry of a drug into the brain is determined by the fat solubility of the drug. **The rate of entry is faster if the fat solubility is greater**. Conversely, highly ionized drugs, such as penicillin, penetrate the blood--brain barrier poorly. Third**, *metabolism*** refers to the effects (action) of the drug. All drugs that might be misused or abused "feel good" in different ways; for example, the drug user may feel more alert, relaxed, or happy. However, each drug also may have specific target receptor sites in various brain structures and affect some different neurotransmitter pathways. Fourth**, *elimination*** refers to the breakdown and excretion of drugs from a body. Drugs are excreted in time primarily through sweating or urination, involving the skin and kidneys. Drugs have measurable and differential distribution and elimination half-lives (i.e., the amount of time it takes for half of the drug to reach sites of action and be eliminated from the body). **MEANING OF DRUG ABUSE** The excessive maladaptive or addictive use of drugs for non-medical purposes despite social, psychological and physical problems that may arise from such use. Substance Abuse or Drug Abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances including alcohol and illicit drugs. 'Drug Abuse' is defined as self-administration of a drug for non-medical reasons, in quantities and frequencies, which may impair an individual\'s ability to function effectively and result in social, physical or emotional harm. Such drugs produce psychological and physiological dependence. That is to say that the individual feels a false sense of well-being and cannot function mentally and physically when they take drugs. Drug abuse is a maladaptive pattern of drug use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one or more of four symptoms or criteria in a 12-month period. 1\. Recurrent drug use may result in a *failure to fulfill major role obligations* at work, school, or home. Repeated absences, tardiness, poor performance, suspensions, or neglect of duties in major life domains suggests that use has crossed over into abuse. 2\. Recurrent drug use in situations in which it is *physically hazardous* is a sign of abuse. Operating machinery, driving a car, swimming, or walking in a dangerous area while under the influence indicates drug abuse. 3\. Recurrent drug-related *legal problems*, such as arrests for disorderly conduct or for driving under the influence, are indicative of abuse. 4\. Recurrent use despite having persistent or recurrent *social or interpersonal problems*, caused or exacerbated by the effects of the drug, is indicative of abuse. For example, getting into arguments or fights with others, passing out at others' houses, or acting inappropriately in front of others (which is disapproved of) is indicative of abuse. **NATURE** 1\. *Tolerance is experienced*. There is either a need for markedly increased amounts of the drug to achieve the desired drug effect or a markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the drug. 2\. *Withdrawal is experienced*. Either a characteristic withdrawal syndrome occurs when one terminates using the drug or the same or a similar drug is taken to relieve or avoid the syndrome. 3\. The drug often is taken in *larger amounts or over a longer period* than was intended. For example, an alcohol-dependent man may intend to drink only two drinks on a given evening but may end up having fifteen drinks. Alternatively, he may decide to "party" over the weekend; however, the party lasts for 2 weeks, until he runs out of money. 4\. There is a *persistent desire or unsuccessful effort to cut down or control drug use*. For example, an alcohol-dependent man may decide to become a controlled drinker. He may intend to drink only two drinks every evening; however, he ends up having fifteen drinks on some evenings, two drinks on some evenings, and twenty drinks on other evenings. 5\. *A great deal of time is spent on activities necessary to obtain the drug, use the drug, or recover from its effects*. For example, a person may travel long distances or search all day to "score" a drug, may use the drug throughout the night, and then may miss work the next day to recover and rest. In this scenario, two days were spent for one "high." 6\. *Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of drug use*. For example, the drug abuser may be very high, passed out, or hung over much of the time and thus may not visit family and friends like he or she did before becoming a drug abuser. 7\. *Drug use continues despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem* that is likely to have been caused or worsened by the drug. For example, someone who becomes very paranoid after continued methamphetamine use and is hospitalized but continues to use it after release from the hospital exhibits this last symptom.