LESSON V

DRUG ABUSE AND ITS PREVENTION

One of the problems that continuously increasing all over the world is the
rampant use of illegal drugs. This social problem seems to be universal and
which victimizes all people, young or old, rich or poor and intelligent or not. It is
but apt that we gain information on drugs and how we can prevent it. Let’s look at
the basic concepts of drug abuse.

BASIC CONCEPTS IN DRUG ABUSE

DRUG DEPENDENCE
Drug dependence is the ultimate disastrous consequence of drug abuse. The
World Health Organization (WHO) defines drug dependence as “a state,
psychic or also sometimes physical, resulting from the interaction between a
living organism and a drug, and characterized by behavioural and other
responses that always include a compulsive desire or need to use the drug on a
continuous basis in order to experience its effects and/or avoid the discomfort of
its absence”.
Simply stated, drug dependence is the situation or condition a person finds
himself in which he uses or abuses a drug to the point that the drug
becomes the main focus of his life. Taking a drug has become a compulsion,
a necessary habit. He must have the drug, regardless of the cost to his health or
to his life. A drug abuser who has reached his condition is called a drug
dependent.
Drug dependence may either be physical or psychological or both.
PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE
Certain psychoactive drugs – alcohol, heroin and cocaine, to mention few- cause
a change in the body chemistry when make frequently in large doses over a long
period of time. The human body becomes used to the presence of the drug.
Having gotten used to the drug, the body begins to need it as much as it needs
food. If the use of the drug is stopped or withdrawn, the body reacts by showing
what are known as withdrawal symptoms. The ill effects that a drug abuser feels
when he stops using the drugs to which he has become accustomed are called
withdrawal symptoms.
The typical withdrawal symptoms include trembling, hallucinations, nausea and
vomiting. These symptoms may be more or less severe depending on the drug to
which the body has been accustomed and the level of extent of the dependence. In the
case of some drugs like barbiturates, withdrawal can lead to death unless the
withdrawal is done with the help of or under the supervision of a doctor.
Another term for physical dependence is drug addiction. A drug user who has reached
the stage of physical dependence in his drug use is said to be a drug dependent.
Drugs that produce physical dependence are called drugs. Not all drugs, however, are
addictive; may are non-addictive. Consequently, not all drugs abusers are drug
dependents.

PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCE
Some drugs do not produce physical dependence. In other words, the body does not
need the drugs nor crave for them.
But why does the drug abuser keep on taking the drug? This is because the drug
abuser is convinced in his mind that he needs the drug. It is more of a mental or
emotional need. The drug abuser feels he cannot be happy or satisfied without the drug,
which has become a very important part of his life.
This kind of dependence is known as drug habituation or psychological dependence.
Examples of drugs that produce this kind of dependence are hallucinogens and
nicotine.
There are some drugs; however that can both physical and psychological dependence.
A classic example of such drug is alcohol.

PHASES OF DRUG DEPENDENCE

There are four basic steps that teenagers take on the road to drug dependence:
1. Experimentation Phase. Here, the new user experiments with or tries a drug for
the first time in his life although he has heard that people who use drugs experience
a “high” or pleasure, the first time often produces a negative experience. But the
first- time user does not always experience this. Instead, he may experience some ill
effects. The first- time smoker, for instance, is likely to cough. The cigarette smoke
brings tears to his eyes. He finds the basic of the cigarette unpleasant. In the case of
 some drugs, the beginner may even experience some vomiting. The unpleasant
effects often turn off many beginning drug users. They stop using drugs.

2. Occasional or Social Use. Some teenagers, assured by their drug using friends
that the unpleasant effects are normal and would pass away, decide to continue
using drugs. The ill effects are no longer experienced. In fact, he starts to experience
the pleasure of drug use although in a moderate way. However, his use of drugs is
still infrequent. He uses drugs only when they are made available to him. Usually,
this happens when he is with his druggie friends. At this stage, he does not have a
craving yet for drugs. He does not go out of his way to look for drugs. If drugs are
made available to him, he can use drugs and stop any time he wants to.

3. Regular Use.In thisstage,he actively, seeks the drug of abuse of his choice. He
tries to make sure that he has a ready supply of the drug or that he can readily
obtain it. The craving for the drug develops. A change in his behaviour becomes
noticeable. In time, the craving for the drug increases. The use becomes more and
more frequent with the result that the user’s tolerance greatly increases, too.

4. Drug Dependence.In thisstage, he no longer just takesthe drug every now and
then but uses them day-by-day. The drug has become a major part of his life. He
has to have the drug at all cost. Given the choice, the teen drug user will buy drugs
rather than food. He has to have drug, regardless of the cost to his health, or to his
life. The teenager has become a drug dependent. His life and his future ruined, he
has nothing to look forward to except drugs and more drugs.

PRIMARY CAUSES AND CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS TO DRUG ABUSE

FAMILY
1. Escape from strict and domineering parents;

2. Parents lack of communication with children;

3. Parents are frequently quarrelling in their presence;

4. Overprotective parents;

5. Neglected children;

6. Parents are busy in their work and have no time for the children; and
 7. Children prefer to be with peer group ( barkada) because they feel nobody wants
them at home.

LOGICAL FACTORS

Some individual health conditions such as fatigue, chronic cough, insomnia,

physical distress and mental disorders are usually relieved with the use of drugs.
The improper use of drugs will then lead to drug abuse.

With the use of a certain drug, the body works actively, but with the continued
improper use of such drug it will result in physical dependency.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

1. Low Self- Esteem and Poor Self-Image. This easily contributes to drug abuse.

2. Need for Acceptance or Belonging. To some young people, using drugs

provided by their friends and using them together are ways of winning friends’
acceptance and of compensating for having no one to associate with.

3. Feeling for More Freedom and Autonomy. Drug users feel that their freedom
and independence are very much suppressed. They want to be free in making
decisions. To prohibit them is to make them do it.

4. Escape from Reality. The drug user simply wants to get away from reality.

5. Mental Problem. Illegal drug use has been associated with a variety of
psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety. It is viewed as an
expression of personality deficiency or symptom of psychotic disturbance.

6. Attention Getting. Using drugs is a way to get the attention of either their
parents or love ones; thus, to become the center of attraction in the family.
RENTAL NEGLIGENCE
1. Over domineering parents;

2. Lack of parental concern and closeness;

3. Parental permissiveness;

4. Rejection by the parents;

5. Abuse by the parents;

 6. Family instability and disorganization;

7. Harsh physical punishment; and

8. Childhood stress and trauma.

EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE

I. Effect to the Person (User)
A. Medical and Physical Deterioration
1. Respiratory Diseases – Asthma, Bronchitis, Bronchiectasis,
Tuberculosis, Lung abscess, Emphysema, Lung cancer

2. Digestive System Disease – Peptic ulcer, Gastritis, Hepatitis

3. Infection

4. Anemia

5. Physical Condition – Fatigue, muscle wasting, loss of weight,

weakness, insomnia, poor muscular condition.

B. Personality Deterioration
1. Wittyand manipulative

2. Negative attitudes

3. Selfish and demanding

4. Low frustration tolerance

5. Poor relation to parents and his siblings

6. Non- trustworthiness

7. Usually depressed

8. Self-centered
 9. Absence of good manners and right conduct

10. Association to known drug users

11. Losses of so many things at home and at times from neighbors, at

school and at work

C. Mental Deterioration
1. Loss of interest to any productive activities

2. No productive and gainful work

3. Emotionally immature

4. No initiative for self- improvement

5. Low IQ and usually drop-out from the school at work

6. Inability to concentrate

7. Easily forgets

8. Suffering from withdrawal symptoms

9. Nervous imbalance

10. Irritable

11. Agitated

12. Irresponsible

13. Psychosis

D. Spiritual Deterioration
1. Drug abusers are godless.

2. No spiritual belief and no spiritual obligation nor religious.

II. Effect to the Family

1. Intensefeeling of humiliation and guilt are felt by family members.

2. Self-esteem are generally low among the members of the family

3. The spirit of togetherness or unity are broken

4. Occurrence of domestic violence

5. Loss of money or valuables

6. Loss of unity among family members

III. Effect to the Community

1. Increase of petty crimes in the community (Physical injuries, rape,

hold-upping, bag snatching, stealing by “akyat-bahay gang” and
“bukaskotse gang”, and others)

2. Increase of drug dependent and drug pusher especially at night

3. Fear of community residents to drug dependent especially at night

4. Neighbourhood association becomes inactive

IV. Effect to the Society

1. Increaseof heinous crimes or anti-social crimes

2. Increase of immortality and loss of moral fiber of the society

(prostitution, pedophilia, child abuse)

3. Downfall of social values of the country

 4. Limited movement of people especially at night time for fear of the
drug dependent
WEAPONS TO COMBAT THE DRUG MENACE

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

As always, prevention is better than cure. The best thing that parents of young children
can do to prevent a drug problem occurring is to set as an example of good behaviour
themselves. This means not just instilling a positive attitude with the child. If the
emphasis in the home is always “you can do it” rather than “you’ll never do it” there is a
greater chance that the child will grow up that the child will grow up with an inner,
unshakeable core of self-confidence, will never turn to drugs, and easy, open
relationship with parents based on mutual trust and understanding will also help a lot.
Parents and relatives must give all the love and understanding they can. Do not
condemn drug dependants, for they are helpless, sick people and have no power over
their disease.
To sum up, here are the most important Do’s and Don’ts with regard to parental
attitudes over drug taking:
1. Before condemning any drug habit, make sure you are setting the very best
example yourself. It is more likely that teenagers will take drugs if they see
adults around them being dependent on alcohol or tobacco.

2. Become knowledgeable. Talk with other adults- your spouse or your partner,
teachers at school- about how you would react if your child is discovered taking
drugs.

3. Talk to your son or daughter –not just about drugs, but about their hopes for
the future, and let them know you are always around if they need a helping hand
or shoulder to cry on.

4. Don’t be unduly suspicious. Keep a watchful eye, without going through

drawers, personal belongings or bags. This destroys trust, and may well
encourage a drug habit to take hold.
 DRUG ABUSE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION

Prevention programs provide a basis for teaching young people to develop healthy
behavioural patterns that do not include drug taking, and for instilling in them a sense of
responsibility.

Drug abuse education should be fully integrated into public and private, religious or
secular, school curricula, with emphasis on the destructive effects of drug use, the
encouragement of excellence in teaching, health and overall personal well- being.

Reference:
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM (Developing a Responsible Citizen
Towards Community Development)