ESCAPING THE TEMPTATIONS OF

DRUG ABUSE

DR. SITU OLADELE mb;bs (Ib)NYSC corper SUMMIT, NSUK, 10/12/

2012

Introduction Definitions Patterns of drug abuse among youths in

Nigeria Effects of drug abuse Mechanism of drug addiction Escaping the addition

contents

Substance abuse, also known as drug

abuse, is a patterned use of a substance (drug) in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods neither approved nor supervised by medical professionals

Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual and to those around him or her

definition

Drug and substance abuse poses a significant

hazard to the health and development of young people and cuts across age and social class.

The quest for new experiences and the rebellious nature of the young predisposes them to drug abuse.

Introduction

age at first use of drug has been found to be

as early as eleven years (NDLEA 1999). The illicit drug most commonly abused by

young people in Nigeria is cannabis (marajuana). It is illegally cultivated in different parts of Nigeria and is relatively cheap.

As one study showed, almost a tenth (8.2%) of young people between the ages of 10-19 years have used cannabis at some time in their lives.

Introduction

They often have family problems and a

circle of friends among whom drug use is widespread. Often their parents are themselves dependent on substances such as alcohol or tranquillizers.

Introduction

CANNABIS

Illegal platation sites have been found in Ekiti, Oyo States, south western Nigeria (NDLEA)

Outright illicit drugs Socially “acceptable” drugs Over the-counter-drugs Prescribed medications unconventional substances not yet under

international control

Drugs commonly abused

Cannabis highly addictive hard drugs such as cocaine

and heroine

Illicit drugs

Cannabis highly addictive hard drugs such as cocaine and heroine

Alcohol Cigarettes LSD (“ecstasy”) tobacco

Socially “acceptable” drugs/hallucinogens

LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

MDMA (sometimes called ecstasy)

Psychostimulant

high incidence of non-medical or self-

medicated use of benzodiazepines and psychotropic substances (amphetamines and barbiturates)

Opioids and Morphine-like drugs result of the ineffective enforcement of laws

on their sale and distribution.

Over-the-counter drugs

Paracetamol Aspirin Sleeping pills Tramadol antibiotics

Prescribed drugs

volatile organic solvents, such as petrol and

glue unconventional substances not yet under

international control e.g. pawpaw leaves, zakami, haukatayaro

Unconventional substances

Alcohol and tobacco constitute a major threat

to the health of young people. They are referred to as “gate way drugs” as most young people who abuse drugs and other dangerous substances started with alcohol and cigarettes.

“gate way drugs”

predisposition to experimentation, rebellion and desire for independence; peer pressure; defects in personality such as low self-esteem; notion of ‘machismo’ characterized by

independent risk-taking behaviour; engagement of older siblings in drug taking;

Why do drugs?

frustrations caused by tension between

improved levels of education and shrinking employment opportunities;

parental deprivation as a result of separation, divorce, death of a spouse or persistent discord between spouses in the home;

advertisement such as those associating smoking with success, glamour, popularity, youthful vigor and good health;

Why do drugs?

rapid urbanizations (social change) with the

breakdown of the family’s effective cultural and social controls;

exposure to high risk jobs (such as tobacco company) and environments that encourage drug use (such as bars)

employment outside the home such as teenagers who drop out-of- school to take up menial jobs in market places and motor parks

Why do drugs?

Estimates of the total overall costs of

substance abuse in the United States, including productivity and health- and crime-related costs, exceed $600 billion annually.

This includes approximately $193 billion for illicit drugs, $193 billion for tobacco, and $235 billion for alcohol.

EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Drug taking has a close inter-relationship with

crime because of their cost and highly addictive nature,

drugs drive their users to robbery or prostitution as a means of maintaining their habit.

use of drugs in tertiary educational institutions has been linked to the upsurge of violent cult activities.

It is believed that armed robbers, vigilante militants, as well as cult members use drugs as a means of stimulating boldness.

Effects of drug abuse

Pedestrian MVA Social/marital violence including rape Psychiatric manifestations like schizophrenia Pregnancy complications like fetal alcohol

sydrome HIV/AIDS, Cancers, STDs

Effects of drug abuse

Marajuana Cocaine

Lowers testosterone level

seizure

Impairs sperm production

Raised and irregular heart rate

Menstrual irregularities hallucination

Memory loss Stroke

Depression Hear failure

lack of sleep Respiratory failure

anxiety Cerebral hemorrhages

Long term effects of some drugs

dependence, overdose accidents premature death alienated from their families, not attending

school and living away from home failed relationships and family

disintegaration loss off job

Effects of drug abuse

What happens to the brain when you take drugs?

often mistakenly assumed that drug abusers

lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by choosing to change their behaviour

The rapidly adapting “reward pathway” system in the brain

brain changes that occur over time challenge an addicted person’s self control and hamper his or her ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs.

Mechanism of addiction

marijuana and heroin ≈ brain

neurotransmitters≈ “fool” the brain’s receptors → activate nerve cells to send abnormal messages.

cocaine or methamphetamine → abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters (mainly dopamine) → a brain awash in dopamine in brain regions that control movement, emotion, motivation, and feelings of pleasure → overstimulation of this reward system,

Mechanism of addiction

The biological make up of individuals (including

gender and race) The environmental factors Age of commencement of drugs

Why do some addicted and others don’t?

Prevention is key Public awareness about the effects of drug abuse Established anti-illicit drug use policies and

effective law enforcement to back up Strong family/social ties Influence of religion Effective regulation of health policies and

prescribed drug use Seek professional help Developed improved stress coping strategies

Escaping drug abuse

Direct medical intervention

I. AntipsychoticsII. Alternative drug substance “replacement” &

detoxifiers (e.g. disulfiram, naloxone)III. Psychobehavioural therapies (e.g. Cognitive-

behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing and incentives)

Midway homes (group behaviour therapy)

Escaping drug abuse

“…long period of incarceration ranging from

15 to 25 years and sometimes, life imprisonment for producers and traffickers. Additionally, any organisation that colludes with offenders to perpetrate a drug offence or to conceal proceeds from the illicit drug trade is also liable on conviction to a term of 25 years imprisonment or two million Naira fine.”

NDLEA

NATIONAL DRUG LAW ENORCEMENT AGENCY, 1989

THANK YOU

Akinboye, J.O.(2000). Parenting success. A

seminar paper presented at the Department of guidance and counseling. University of Ilorin. Pgs 7-11.

National Drug Intelligence Center (2011). The Economic Impact of Il-licit Drug Use on American Society. Washington D.C.: United States De-partment of Justice. Available at: http://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs44/44731/44731p.pdf(PDF, 2.4MB)

references

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses—United States, 2000–2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5745a3.htm (PDF 1.4MB).

references

Rehm, J., Mathers, C., Popova, S.,

Thavorncharoensap, M., Teerawattananon Y., Patra, J. Global burden of disease and injury and economic cost attributable to alcohol use and alcohol-use disorders. Lancet, 373(9682):2223–2233, 2009.

National Drug and Law enforcement Agency (www.NDLEA.ng)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gateway_drug_theory

references