FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ABOUT THE NATURE OF DRUG

ABUSE
 1 What is drug?
A drug is a chemical substance that brings
about physical, emotional or behavioral
change in a person taking it. How are drugs
taken? Ingestion, inhalation, injection used as
suppository and applied topically.
When are drugs harmful?

Any drug may be harmful when taken in

excess. Some drugs can also be harmful if
taken in dangerous combinations or by
hypersensitive (allergic) person in ordinary or
even small dosage.

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Why do people turn to drugs?

There are various reasons-ranging from the

reason that “medicines” can solve problems,
to widespread
access to various drugs, to peer pressure to
the notion that drugs give enjoyment to
users and in the context that it is used as an
alcoholic substitute.
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What is drug abuse?
Drug abuse is the use of chemical substance, licit or
illicit, which results in an individual’s physical, mental
or social impairment. It may refer to any of the
following practices:

a. Using, without benefit or prescription useful drugs

which have the capacity to alter mood or behavior.

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Continuation…

b. Using drugs and substances for a purpose

different from the one for which the drug has
been prescribed; and

c. Using drugs and substances having no legitimate

medical application for purposes other than
research.

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Are there products other than drugs ever abused?

Substances like glue, paint thinners, gasoline

and other volatile (breathable) solvents contain
a variety of dangerous chemicals. They should
be sold and used with caution.

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What are the types of drugs?

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What is a drug abuser?
Anyone can be a drug abuser. Drug abuse is no
respecter of age, sex and social status. It is very
difficult to come up with an accurate profile of a
drug abuser that can be applied to all because
people are different in many ways?

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How can you tell when one is abusing drugs?

A lot of changes-in behavior, in appearance and in

mood-occur in a person who is abusing drugs.
Sudden changes occur in the person’s disposition
from pleasant to unpleasant.

The individual:
a. Is often associated with known drug abusers;

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Continuation…
b. Is irritable, discourteous, defiant and aggressive.
c. Is untrustworthy and lacks self-confidence;
d. Is unhealthy and unconcerned with good grooming;
e. Has low frustration tolerance;
f. Lacks interest in his/her studies or work;
g. Blames everybody but not himself/herself for his problems;
h. Develops changes in normal capabilities in school/work;
and
i. Borrows money and at times steals various items unusually.

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