COMBATING DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Drugs and substances are tearing apart our society, sprawling crimes, spreading diseases and above all destroying our youths and our future, despite these well known risks, people continue to abuse drugs leading to destruction of individual lives and the society at large.

In a strict medical sense, the word drug connotes a different meaning from that presumed by the public. To medical personnel, drug is any substance that can be used to ease or cure ill health through effective and proper use on some body tissues and organs. Since drugs have the innate ability and capacity to produce both positive and negative effects, its dosage must be carefully restricted and administered bearing in mind its consumption in high dosage that can be poisonous and detrimental to general well being.

Generally, in the sense used by the press and public, reference is made to hard drugs; those that can act in the brain or nervous system thereby affecting the mind and behaviour.

Many of these drugs and substances are available naturally in plants and have been used from time immemorial. The hard or more dangerous ones like cocaine and opium have been placed in special categories and their use have been banned or suppressed not only because of their ability to stimulate or depress the normal state and activities of the mind, but also its ability to give rise to unrealistic sensations.

To abuse drug is to administer it without medical justification i.e Self administration or medication which is a state characterized by compulsion to take drug on a continuous basis in order to experience its mental effects and avoid the discomfort of its absence. Drug is abused when it is used in a manner that deviates from the medically approved and socially acceptable patterns within a given society or culture which may adversely affect the ordinary behaviour of a normal person. Their continuous use results in increased longing for same to the extent that the tolerance for the drug or abstinence is characterized by withdrawal syndrome. Though not all drugs so abused is capable of producing adverse effects especially if it is in normal medicines to be used, the type referred to here is hard drugs.

It is pertinent to note that drug and substance abuse is not a problem solely of the poor or minority, but people from all walks of life. It knows no boundary neither is it checkmated by race, religion, ideology, age or sex. It is thus a problem that not only the constituted authority or a particular sect can curb or deal with.  Instead, it requires all hands deck to tackle this abnormalcy that is spreading like wildfire in recent times.

Drugs are variously classified into; stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens, cannabis, inhalants, tobacco, psychotropic substances, depressants, anabolic steroids etc. It has been argued that people are drawn to drugs for one or more of the following reasons;

-          to feel grown and be in charge of their lives and decisions,

-          to fit in,

-          to relax and feel good,

-          to take risks, and

-          to satisfy their curiosity among others.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned, it is the fact that whatever the situation or predicament abusers are in, the abuse does not make it cease or go away, they only feel it does help when they are high on those drugs, ironically when its effect subsides the situation or problem still maintains its status quo. This is a major reason why abusers are prone to committing suicide.

Factors that determine or increase the likelihood of drugs and substance abuse are;

-          availability of hard drugs,

-          peer pressure,

-          family and social background,

-          environment in which individuals grow up and have their adolescent years,

-          products of unsettled homes or failed marriages,

-          lack of parental care,

-          poverty,

-          unemployment,

-          incessant need to reduce or control weight, enhance or achieve a high level of performance especially among athletes and students.

Note that no matter what, there is no justification for abuse of drugs in any predicament.

Early signs of involvement in drugs are withdrawal, depression, hostility, uncooperative attitude and the likes. These deviant behaviours are mostly easily noticeable, but unfortunately, families and close friends or associates of drug abusers does not sense the danger until it is belated. Oftentimes, people tend to proffer excuses in situations like this and shy away from the real truth instead of identifying the problem early enough and nipping it in the bud.

The negative effects of illicitly using drugs is  that that it physically, psychologically, emotionally and mentally damage users as its toxic effect becomes more pronounced after a prolonged use. They are responsible for crimes ranging from drug trafficking, drug poisoning, drug related homicides, suicide, drug overdose, restlessness and even death, which ordinarily they would not commit in their sane state. They also promote terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, weapon trafficking among others, in short, its devastating effect is in-exhaustive, even friends, families, close associates and people who come in contact with abusers also fall victim.

International legal regimes on control of drug abuse and trafficking normally place strict measures on its manufacture, prescription and supply in addition to educating the populace and rehabilitating affected persons. For example, in the 19^th century, Chinese authority was compelled to enforce ban on trade of opium

In 1990, United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNIDCP) was formed as a worldwide center of enterprise and information on drug abuse, while WHO collaborated on planning, managing, evaluating and control of drug dependence, treatment, rehabilitation of affected persons.

IINTERPOL – law enforcement relation to crimes across international borders,(drug trafficking etc)

Nonetheless all and sundry Int enfrc: many NGOs have emerged to create awareness and help rehabilitate addicts.

Each and all- parents, families don’t give up when you note signs report quickly/ suggest to rehabilitate(*as one don’t know trill too late) don’t cover up/ ignore (thus the whole of the human society……… local, national, global, continental regardless of sex, race, tribe, religion etc)