DRUG ABUSE

Drug Abuse



Drug Abuse

Introduction

Drug abuse refers to repetitive, nonmedical use of any substance that is detrimental to the physical, psychological, or social health of the user and negatively impacts the welfare of others. One of the most complex and widespread epidemics in the world, drug abuse cuts across economic, social, ethnic, gender, and age strata and affects people in developed and underdeveloped countries alike. Drug abuse poses significant threats to the health, social and economic stability, and functionality of families, communities, and nations.

The World Health Organization indicated in the 2002 World Health Report that there are 2 billion alcohol users, 1.3 billion smokers, and 185 million drug users, and drug abuse accounted for an estimated 8.9 percent of deaths worldwide. Yet, that estimate does not take into consideration deaths indirectly related to substance abuse, such as suicide, cancer, accidents, or violence, signifying that drug abuse contributes to far more global illness and death than the statistics reveal.

Body: Discussion and Analysis

Drugs fall into one of three categories: legal or licit, prescription, and illicit. They include, but are not limited to, the following substances: alcohol, cannabinoids (e.g., marijuana, hashish), cocaine, hallucinogens (e.g., LSD, mescaline), inhalants (e.g., toluene, acetone), opioids (e.g., heroin, morphine, methadone), sedative hypnotics (e.g., barbiturates, nonbarbiturate sedatives, benzodiazepines), stimulants (e.g., amphetamines, anorectic agents, preparations of Catha edulis, ecstasy), and tobacco. All drugs are characterized by the ability to change the consciousness, mood, senses, or thinking patterns of the user. Legal or licit drugs, like alcohol, cigarettes, and even caffeine, do not induce harmful effects when use is limited; however, when such drugs are taken in excess, they have potentially psychoactive and addictive effects. Prescription drugs are considered helpful, not harmful, when taken under the guidance of a licensed medical practitioner; however, when abused, they are considered detrimental to individual health and well-being. Substances deemed illicit either by international standards or local legislature are generally deemed more problematic with the potential to greatly inhibit the welfare of individuals and their communities.

There is much debate about the distinction between drug use, drug abuse, addiction, and dependence. The terms are often interchangeable, although they have subtly different implications in the realms of public health, mental health, law, and the mass media. Here, drug use indicates neither the problematic nor habit-forming use of any substance. Drug abuse results from the complex physiological and psychological interactions of the substance, the individual, and social and environmental factors. It refers to a pattern of self-destructive behavior of repeated use of drugs that fall outside the realm of accepted medical or social norms, despite negative health and social consequences.

Most drugs of abuse generate physical dependence and all induce a psychological dependence. Interestingly, addiction may occur without dependence, but the converse is not necessarily true. For example, inhalants and LSD do not mediate a physiological addiction, yet the individual seeks the sensations experienced induced by the drug and continues use. Conversely, some drugs create a physical dependence, such as chlorpromazine, but are not abused due to the lack of ...