SUBSTANCE ABUSE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Substance means material or type of matter
Abuse means use something wrongly
Substance abuse means taking something often that your body does need and for the wrong reasons.
CLASSIFICATION OF SUBSTANCES
- Over the counter substances
These are substances that can easily be bought over the counter and used for a medical purpose such as panadol, aspirin, cafenol, fansidar and vemox.
- Controlled Substances
These are substances that can be obtained if one has a prescription. These substances can be dangerous if not used properly. E.g. Morphine, valium, cocaine, and marijuana
CLASSIFICATION OF SUBSTANCES ACCORDING TO THEIR EFFECTS
- Depressants- These are substances that slow down the action of the central nervous system. They are also known as Sedatives or hypnotics. E.g. Alcohol, mandrax and valium. They decrease awareness and tension. But when taken in larger amounts, they lead to a coma.
- These are substances that stimulate the central nervous system and speed up the body processes. The most common stimulant is caffeine found in tea coffee, chocolate, and coca-cola.
- Hallucinogens are substances that distort the way the brain translates impulses or messages from sensory organs producing perceptual changes. The brain may produce images with no basis in reality called hallucinations. These substances in this category include. Lysergic acid diethylLSD, cocaine, magic mushrooms, and ecstasy.
- Narcotics or opiates. These are substances that make the senses dull and relieve pain by depressing the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain responsible for consciousness including perception, memory, and learning.
- Inhalants or solvents. These are drugs found in household products such as glue, deodorants like perfume sprays, and fuel gasses. The capillary surface of the lungs allows quick absorption of the substance. Entry into the brain is fast and intoxicating effects are intense.
SUBSTANCES AND THEIR EFFECTS
ALCOHOL
Alcohol is a pure colorless liquid present in drinks. People take alcohol for pleasure. Most of the medicines contain a percentage of alcohol
Alcohol abuse is when one drinks too much alcohol too often.
Addiction taking something that one cannot stop.
An alcoholic is a person who is addicted to alcohol.
Alcoholism is a severe and potentially fatal condition caused by physical dependence on alcohol. It impairs physical and mental health.
BEVERAGES AND THEIR PERCENTAGE
|
Beverage |
Percentage of Ethanol % |
|
Mosilarger Ohlssons larger Castle lager Chibuku Wine Kachasu (traditional Spirits
|
4.5 5 5 4 6 12 20 25 65 3345
|
The strength of any alcoholic beverage depends on the percentage concentrate of ethanol per volume meaning the more ethanol the more effects it has to an individual.
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
- Increase blood pressure and heartbeat
- Causes violent behavior
- Affects the brain, it distorts the one way thinks, speaks,s and acts.
- Causes cirrhosis. The liver becomes fatty and enlarged causing inflammations.
- Hypothermia feeling warm even when in reality one is losing heat.
- Distorts perception of time and space and has a double vision (unclear objects).
TOBACCO
Tobacco is made up of some chemicals which are poisonous when one smokes as it enters the bloodstream.
Carbon monoxide-It is a deadly gas that affects the blood's ability to carry oxygen around the body.
Tar -contains a number of substances that can cause cancer
Nicotine is a very powerful drug that makes the heart beat faster.
EFFECTS OF TOBACCO
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema- Lung disease which affects breathing.
- Heart disease nicotine increases the heartbeat and so wears down the heart.
- Cancer – smoking causes about 90% of deaths from cancer
- Blood clots and stomach ulcers.
- damage the unborn babies
- Shortness of breath
- Colds, flu, and other infections
- Non- smokers inhale smoke which makes them passive smokers
- Due to the process of drying and curing tobacco.
INHALANTS
- Inhalants are a diverse group of substances that include volatile solvents and gases. The volatile substances are found in household products such as glue, paint, nail polish, powdered tobacco, tipex, petro, rubber, and lighter fluid.
- Inhalants are usually sniffed from an open container and lungs allow rapid absorption as a result enters into the brain is fast and intoxicating effects intense.
EFFECTS OF INHALANTS
- Depression of the central nervous system. (Reducing breath rate and
- Causing high blood pressure.
- Headaches, nausea, slurred speech, and loss of motor coordination.
- Rash around the nose and mouth.
- Unpredictable behavior.
- Memory impairment and attention deficit.
- Liver and kidney abnormalities.
- Red, glassy and watery eyes.
- Distortion in the perception of time and space.
DRUGS
A drug is any substance that alters the chemistry of the body and affects the natural balance of the mind and emotions. Drugs can either be natural or synthetic chemicals. Natural drugs are those which are found in certain plants. For example, caffeine in coffee, nicotine in tobacco and tetra hydro-cannabino
CANNABIS
This is a hard brown material or herbal mixture that comes from a cannabis plant.
THREE FORMS CANNABIS
Marijuana: This comes from the dried leaves, flowers or stems of the cannabis plant. It has a concentration of delta-9-tetrahydocannabinol (THC) of about 0-12%.
Hashish:This is made from the dark, sticky resin of the plant and contains THC of about 12-18%.
Hashish oil: This is made by compressing hashish to produce oil using a solvent. The concentration of THC is about 18-25% and is much higher than that of marijuana and hashish.
EFFECTS OF CANNABIS
- Causing craving for certain foods (increasing appetite).
- Making most users relaxed or talkative.
- Making users paranoid and anxious, depending on their mood and situation.
- Causing health problems such as cancer and respiratory disorders.
- Affecting the reproductive system by reducing sperm count in males while irregular menstrual cycles in females.
- Affecting memory and coordination.
- Leaving users feeling exhausted.
HEROIN
Heroin is a brown or white speckled powder made from juice extract from the unripe capsule of the poppy plant. The seed capsule of the green opium produces a milky juice (latex) from which many drugs can be made such as morphine. Morphine is used for medicinal purposes.
EFFECTS OF HEROIN
- Depresses some brain cells or stimulates other types of brain functions leading to disturbing pattern of nerve activity, perception.
- Loss of appetite.
- Chronic constipation.
- Death due to overdose.
- Urge to commit suicide.
- Irregular menstrual cycles in a woman
COCAINE
Cocaine is a white powder made from the leaves of a Coca bush. The coca plant is mainly grown in the coastal plains of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Cocaine is usually smoked, be injected into the blood and can also be taken orally by mixing with liquid or in a capsule form.
EFFECTS OF COCAINE
- menstrual circles
- Transmission of diseases such as Hepatitis and HIVAIDS using hypodermic needles
- Over alertness and elevation of mood
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- Severe weight loss
- Exhaustion and lack of sleep insomnia
- Digestion problems
- Ulceration of the nasal passage
- Heart and blood circulation problems
- Death due to overdose
REASONS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE
- Curiosity: Some people are tempted to try out substances. They would like to taste how it feels, like to take substances.
- Peer pressures, Young people end up taking substances because they want to do what their friends are doing.
- Ignorance: People begin to take substances on an experimental basis and may not be aware of the dangers of the substance they abuse.
- Stress: Adolescence can be a particularly difficult period. One may be under conflicting pressure from parents, school, friends and many difficult choices mighty have to be mad. Adolescence can as well be a time of frustration and boredom; as a result, young people are usually vulnerable to peer pressure.
- Availability of substances: There are a number of substances that are readily available on the market. These include: alcoholic beverages and solvents such as glue, tipex and methylated spirits
- Changing social structures: A family is a unity that serves as a support group for its members. When a family begins to change in a negative way, for example, the loss of a family member.
- Alienation: We have a sense of belonging to a family, group, community or country. When we feel isolated we try to find a group to belong to by associating with people who also feel isolated.
- Unemployment: In Zambia, we have high levels of unemployment which led to employment.
- Lack of Recreational Facilities: Recreation facilities are lacking in Zambian communities. Young people have nowhere to spend their leisure time as a result they may resort to substance abuse
- Enhancement of self-confidence: Some believe that taking substances may help them to improve in their self-confidence in sports, sexual intercourse examinations, and other activities.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
- Sudden change in personality
- Un usual mood swings, restlessness, or irritability
- The decline in school performance
- Spending more time away from home
- Stealing money or goods and excessive spending or borrowing of money
- Heavy use of perfumes to disguise the smell of the substances
- Associating with a particular group especially one that abuses substances
- Lack of interest in school work and absenteeism from work
- Loss of appetite
- Wearing of sunglasses at an inappropriate time to disguise the appearance
POSSESSION OF CERTAIN OBJECTS MAY ALSO INDICATE SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
- Syringes and needles
- Small plastic or glass bottles
- Pillboxes
- Plastic cellophane or metal foil wrappers
- Straws
- Sugar lumps
- Foil containers or metal tins usually discolored by heat
- Shredded cigarettes’ and pipes
AVOIDING SUBSTANCES
- Say no thanks: If you are offered dangerous substances always say no thank you.
- Giving reason or excuse: Always give a reason for declining an offer
- Changing the subject: If someone is enticing you to use dangerous substances you should change the subject to discourage him or her
- Walking away: You can also walk away to avoid being tempted to take dangerous substances
- Avoiding the situation: If you know places where they abuse substances stay away from such places.
- Associating with non-users: Make yourself always busy by doing something like sports.
DEPENDENCE ON SUBSTANCE
Two forms of dependence:
- Physical dependence: is when one tries to withdraw from using a certain substance but experiences physical effects such as shaking.
- Psychological dependence: Moods, depression, and anxiety.
IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Individual Level
- A substance abuser is likely to experience health problems
- Relationships with friends and family may become strained as a result of substance abuser may not have support from the loved ones
- People who abuse substances risk heavy fines or imprisonment.
Family Level
- Most substance abusers tend to spend a lot of money to sustain the habit and end up neglecting their families
- Substance abusers cause disruption and disharmony within the family. Hence everyone in the family is affected.
- Young people in homes where they abuse substances they think substance abuse is normal and accepted in society hence they get influenced and become abusers
Community
- Substance abusers tend to commit crimes such as murder and aggravated robbery in order to acquire more money to support their habit.
- Others may be involved in vices like prostitution and drug trafficking
- The spread of HIV/AIDS is likely to become rampant among abusers especially if they are using needles
- Abusers who become terminally ill it is the community that usually take care of them
- There is also a loss of money in terms of production in industrial accidents, violent crime, treatment and rehabilitation, and care for substance abusers.
International Level
- Increase in drug trafficking
- Money laundering is also common in drug trafficking, drug traffickers use their money to destabilize governments through corruption, intimidation, violence, and buying of the votes.
- Governments of many countries spend a lot of money trying to eradicate drug trafficking
ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY IN COMBATING SUBSTANCE ABUSE
- Abolishing the cultivation of drugs.
- Educating the people.
- Taking a keen interest in what is going on in his or her community.
- Changing people’s attitudes toward substance abuse.
- Establishing groups and clubs.
MEASURE TO FIGHT SUBSTANCE ABUSE
- The public is sensitized to the dangers of substance abuse and its legal implications.
- Drug abuse is liable for punishment by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years if found guilty
- The government of Zambia also works with other countries to exchange information on drug trafficking and related crimes in order to arrest the offender
INSTITUTIONS THAT FIGHT SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC)
It was established in 1989. It is a government institution charged with the responsibility of curbing substance abuse. It investigates and prosecutes cases related to drug trafficking and substance abuse.
NGO INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST.
- Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia
- Youth Alive
- Young Women Christian Association
- Society for Family Health
- Local Churches
- Sport in Action
A group of civic education pupils from Muundu Secondary School carried out a survey to find out prevalent alcohol abuse in their school. They came up with the following information represented in the bar chart below;
SAMPLE QUESTION
- Who is an abuser?
- Analyze why people resort to substance abuse.
- Identify the measures that should be put in place to curb substance abuse
- .Describe the types of substances often abused by people.
- Discuss the substances and their effects.
- Discuss the impact of the substance on an individual, national, community, and international level.
- Mention the institutions that fight substance abuse.
- Study the diagram below and answer the questions. A group of civic education pupils from Muundu Secondary School carried out a survey to find out prevalent alcohol abuse in their school. They came up with the following information represented in the bar chart below;
key
Girls
Boys
- What is substance abuse?
- In which grade are substance abuse more prevalent and two reasons?
- What term is given to a child who depends on alcohol for his/ her physical and mental stability?
- Imagine your school has a problem of alcohol abuse as shown in the bar chart. What behavioral traits will be displayed by those abusing alcohol?
