drug abuse assignment

• Engineering
• Write For Us
• Privacy Policy

Essay on Drug Abuse

Here we have shared the Essay on Drug Abuse in detail so you can use it in your exam or assignment of 150, 250, 400, 500, or 1000 words.

You can use this Essay on Drug Abuse in any assignment or project whether you are in school (class 10th or 12th), college, or preparing for answer writing in competitive exams. 

Topics covered in this article.

Essay on Drug Abuse in 150 words

Essay on drug abuse in 250-300 words, essay on drug abuse in 500-1000 words.

Drug abuse is a global issue that poses serious risks to individuals and society. It involves the harmful and excessive use of drugs, leading to physical and mental health problems. Drug abuse can result in addiction, organ damage, cognitive impairment, and social and economic difficulties. Prevention efforts should focus on education, raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Access to quality healthcare and addiction treatment services is crucial for recovery. Strengthening law enforcement measures against drug trafficking is necessary to address the supply side of the problem. Creating supportive environments and opportunities for positive engagement can help prevent drug abuse. By taking collective action, we can combat drug abuse and build healthier communities.

Drug abuse is a growing global concern that poses significant risks to individuals, families, and communities. It refers to the excessive and harmful use of drugs, both legal and illegal, that have negative effects on physical and mental health.

Drug abuse has severe consequences for individuals and society. Physically, drug abuse can lead to addiction, damage vital organs, and increase the risk of overdose. Mentally, it can cause cognitive impairment, and psychological disorders, and deteriorate overall well-being. Additionally, drug abuse often leads to social and economic problems, such as strained relationships, loss of employment, and criminal activities.

Preventing drug abuse requires a multi-faceted approach. Education and awareness programs play a crucial role in informing individuals about the dangers of drug abuse and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Access to quality healthcare and addiction treatment services is vital to help individuals recover from substance abuse. Strengthening law enforcement efforts to curb drug trafficking and promoting international cooperation is also essential to address the supply side of the issue.

Community support and a nurturing environment are critical in preventing drug abuse. Creating opportunities for individuals, especially young people, to engage in positive activities and providing social support systems can serve as protective factors against drug abuse.

In conclusion, drug abuse is a significant societal problem with detrimental effects on individuals and communities. It requires a comprehensive approach involving education, prevention, treatment, and enforcement. By addressing the root causes, raising awareness, and providing support to those affected, we can combat drug abuse and create a healthier and safer society for all.

Title: Drug Abuse – A Global Crisis Demanding Urgent Action

Introduction :

Drug abuse is a pressing global issue that poses significant risks to individuals, families, and communities. It refers to the excessive and harmful use of drugs, both legal and illegal, that have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. This essay explores the causes and consequences of drug abuse, the social and economic impact, prevention and treatment strategies, and the importance of raising awareness and fostering supportive communities in addressing this crisis.

Causes and Factors Contributing to Drug Abuse

Several factors contribute to drug abuse. Genetic predisposition, peer pressure, stress, trauma, and environmental influences play a role in initiating substance use. The availability and accessibility of drugs, as well as societal norms and cultural acceptance, also influence drug abuse patterns. Additionally, underlying mental health issues and co-occurring disorders can drive individuals to self-medicate with drugs.

Consequences of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse has devastating consequences on individuals and society. Physically, drug abuse can lead to addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. Substance abuse affects vital organs, impairs cognitive function, and increases the risk of accidents and injuries. Mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis, are often associated with drug abuse. Substance abuse also takes a toll on relationships, leading to strained family dynamics, social isolation, and financial instability. The social and economic costs of drug abuse include increased healthcare expenses, decreased productivity, and the burden on criminal justice systems.

Prevention and Education

Preventing drug abuse requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. Education and awareness programs are essential in schools, communities, and the media to inform individuals about the risks and consequences of drug abuse. Promoting healthy coping mechanisms, stress management skills, and decision-making abilities can empower individuals to resist peer pressure and make informed choices. Early intervention programs that identify at-risk individuals and provide support and resources are crucial in preventing substance abuse.

Treatment and Recovery

Access to quality healthcare and evidence-based addiction treatment is vital in addressing drug abuse. Treatment options include detoxification, counseling, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatments. Rehabilitation centers, support groups, and outpatient programs provide a continuum of care for individuals seeking recovery. Holistic approaches, such as addressing co-occurring mental health disorders and promoting healthy lifestyles, contribute to successful long-term recovery. Support from family, friends, and communities plays a significant role in sustaining recovery and preventing relapse.

Law Enforcement and Drug Policies

Effective law enforcement efforts are necessary to disrupt drug trafficking and dismantle illicit drug networks. International cooperation and collaboration are crucial in combating the global drug trade. Additionally, drug policies should focus on a balanced approach that combines law enforcement with prevention, treatment, and harm reduction strategies. Shifting the emphasis from punitive measures toward prevention and rehabilitation can lead to more effective outcomes.

Creating Supportive Communities:

Fostering supportive communities is vital in addressing drug abuse. Communities should provide resources, social support networks, and opportunities for positive engagement. This includes promoting healthy recreational activities, providing vocational training, and creating safe spaces for individuals in recovery. Reducing the stigma associated with drug abuse and encouraging empathy and understanding are crucial to building a compassionate and supportive environment.

Conclusion :

Drug abuse remains a complex and multifaceted issue with far-reaching consequences. By addressing the causes, raising awareness, implementing preventive measures, providing quality treatment and support services, and fostering supportive communities, we can combat drug abuse and alleviate its impact. It requires collaboration and a collective effort from individuals, communities, governments, and organizations to build a society that is resilient against the scourge of drug abuse. Through education, prevention, treatment, and compassion, we can pave the way toward a healthier and drug-free future.

Helping Someone with a Drug Addiction

• Choosing a Drug Rehab Addiction Program

Dual Diagnosis: Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Choosing an alcohol rehab treatment program, staying social when you quit drinking.

• Vaping: The Health Risks and How to Quit

Women and Alcohol

• Binge Drinking: Effects, Causes, and Help
• Online Therapy: Is it Right for You?
• Mental Health
• Health & Wellness
• Children & Family
• Relationships

Are you or someone you know in crisis?

• Bipolar Disorder
• Eating Disorders
• Grief & Loss
• Personality Disorders
• PTSD & Trauma
• Schizophrenia
• Therapy & Medication
• Exercise & Fitness
• Healthy Eating
• Well-being & Happiness
• Weight Loss
• Work & Career
• Illness & Disability
• Heart Health
• Childhood Issues
• Learning Disabilities
• Family Caregiving
• Teen Issues
• Communication
• Emotional Intelligence
• Love & Friendship
• Domestic Abuse
• Healthy Aging
• Aging Issues
• Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia
• Senior Housing
• End of Life
• Meet Our Team

Understanding drug abuse and addiction

Risk factors for drug addiction, myths and facts about drug abuse and addiction, how drug abuse and addiction develops, signs and symptoms of drug abuse and addiction, warning signs that a friend or loved one is abusing drugs, warning signs of prescription drug abuse , when a loved one has a drug problem, when your teen has a drug problem, next step: getting help for drug abuse or addiction, drug abuse and addiction.

Do you or someone you know have a drug problem? Explore the warning signs and symptoms and learn how substance abuse problems develop.

People from all walks of life can experience problems with their drug use, regardless of age, race, background, or the reason they started using drugs in the first place. Some people experiment with recreational drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, or to ease problems such as stress, anxiety, or depression.

However, it’s not just illegal drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, that can lead to abuse and addiction. Prescription medications such as painkillers, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers can cause similar problems. In fact, next to marijuana, prescription painkillers are the most abused drugs in the U.S. and more people die from overdosing powerful opioid painkillers each day than from traffic accidents and gun deaths combined. Addiction to opioid painkillers can be so powerful it has become the major risk factor for heroin abuse.

When drug use becomes drug abuse or addiction

Of course, drug use—either illegal or prescription—doesn’t automatically lead to abuse. Some people are able to use recreational or prescription drugs without experiencing negative effects, while others find that substance use takes a serious toll on their health and well-being. Similarly, there is no specific point at which drug use moves from casual to problematic.

Drug abuse and addiction is less about the type or amount of the substance consumed or the frequency of your drug use, and more about the consequences of that drug use. If your drug use is causing problems in your life—at work, school, home, or in your relationships—you likely have a drug abuse or addiction problem.

If you’re worried about your own or a loved one’s drug use, learning how drug abuse and addiction develops—and why it can have such a powerful hold—will give you a better understanding of how to best deal with the problem and regain control of your life. Recognizing that you have a problem is the first step on the road to recovery , one that takes tremendous courage and strength. Facing your problem without minimizing the issue or making excuses can feel frightening and overwhelming, but recovery is within reach. If you’re ready to seek help, you can overcome your addiction and build a satisfying, drug-free life for yourself.

While anyone can develop problems from using drugs, vulnerability to substance addiction differs from person to person. While your genes, mental health, family and social environment all play a role, risk factors that increase your vulnerability include:

• Family history of addiction
• Abuse, neglect, or other traumatic experiences
• Mental disorders such as depression and anxiety
• Early use of drugs
• Method of administration—smoking or injecting a drug may increase its addictive potential

Six common myths

Overcoming addiction is simply a matter of willpower. You can stop using drugs if you really want.

Prolonged exposure to drugs alters the brain in ways that result in powerful cravings and a compulsion to use. These  brain changes  make it extremely difficult to quit by sheer force of will.

Using drugs like opioid painkillers are safe since they’re so commonly prescribed by doctors.

Short-term medical use of  opioid painkillers  can help to manage severe pain after an accident or surgery, for example. However, regular or longer-term use of opioids can lead to addiction. Misuse of these drugs or taking someone else’s medication can have dangerous—even deadly—consequences.

Addiction is a disease; there’s nothing that can be done about it.

Most experts agree that addiction is a disease that affects the brain, but that doesn’t mean anyone is helpless. The brain changes associated with addiction can be treated and reversed through therapy, medication, exercise, and other treatments.

Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can get better.

Recovery can begin at any point in the addiction process—and the earlier, the better. The longer drug abuse continues, the stronger the addiction becomes and the harder it is to treat. Don’t wait to intervene until the addict has lost everything.

You can’t force someone into treatment; they have to want help.

Treatment doesn’t have to be voluntary to be successful. People who are pressured into treatment by their family, employer, or the legal system are just as likely to benefit as those who choose to enter treatment on their own. As they sober up and their thinking clears, many formerly resistant addicts decide they want to change.

Treatment didn’t work before, so there’s no point trying again.

Recovery from drug addiction  is a long process that often involves setbacks. Relapse doesn’t mean that treatment has failed or that sobriety is a lost cause. Rather, it’s a signal to get back on track, either by going back to treatment or adjusting the treatment approach.

Speak to a Licensed Therapist

BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours.

There’s a fine line between regular drug use and drug abuse and addiction. Very few drug abusers or addicts are able to recognize when they’ve crossed that line. While frequency or the amount of drugs consumed do not necessarily constitute drug abuse or addiction, they can often be indicators of drug-related problems.

If the drug fulfills a valuable need, you may find yourself increasingly relying on it. You may take illegal drugs to calm or energize yourself or make you more confident. You may start abusing prescription drugs to relieve pain, cope with panic attacks, or improve concentration at school or work. If you are using drugs to fill a void in your life , you’re more at risk of crossing the line from casual drug use to drug abuse and addiction. To maintain a healthy balance in your life, you need to have positive experiences and feel good about your life without any drug use.

[Read: Self-Medicating Depression, Anxiety, and Stress]

Drug abuse may start as a way to socially connect. People often try drugs for the first time in social situations with friends and acquaintances. A strong desire to fit in to the group can make it feel like doing the drugs with them is the only option.

Problems can sometimes sneak up on you, as your drug use gradually increases over time. Smoking a joint with friends over the weekend, or taking ecstasy at a rave, or painkillers when your back aches, for example, can change from using drugs a couple of days a week to using them every day. Gradually, getting and using the drug becomes more and more important to you.

As drug abuse takes hold, you may miss or frequently be late for work or school, your job performance may progressively deteriorate, and you may start to neglect social or family responsibilities. Your ability to stop using is eventually compromised. What began as a voluntary choice has turned into a physical and psychological need.

Eventually drug abuse can consume your life, stopping social and intellectual development. This only reinforces feelings of isolation.

Drug addiction and the brain

While each drug produces different physical effects, all abused substances share one thing in common: repeated use can alter the way the brain functions . This includes commonly abused prescription medications as well as recreational drugs.

• Taking the drug causes a rush of the hormone dopamine in your brain, which triggers feelings of pleasure. Your brain remembers these feelings and wants them repeated.
• When you become addicted, the substance takes on the same significance as other survival behaviors, such as eating and drinking.
• Changes in your brain interfere with your ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs.
• No matter which drug you’re addicted to, the uncontrollable craving to use grows more important than anything else, including family, friends, career, and even your own health and happiness.
• The urge to use is so strong that your mind finds many ways to deny or rationalize the addiction. You may drastically underestimate the quantity of drugs you’re taking, how much it impacts your life, and the level of control you have over your drug use.

With the right treatment and support, you can counteract the disruptive effects of drug use and regain control of your life. The first obstacle is to recognize and admit you have a problem, or listen to loved ones who are often better able to see the negative effects drug use is having on your life.

Although different drugs have different physical effects, the symptoms of addiction are similar. If you recognize yourself in the following signs and symptoms, talk to someone about your drug use.

Common symptoms of drug abuse

Neglecting responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children).

Using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high , such as driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.

Experiencing legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing to support a drug habit.

Problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of friends.

Common symptoms of drug addiction

You’ve built up a drug tolerance. You need to use more of the drug to experience the same effects you used to attain with smaller amounts.

You use to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If you go too long without drugs, you experience symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety.

Loss of control over your drug use. You often do drugs or use more than you planned, even though you told yourself you wouldn’t. You may want to stop using, but you feel powerless.

Your life revolves around drug use. You spend a lot of time using and thinking about drugs, figuring out how to get them, or recovering from the drug’s effects.

You’ve abandoned activities you used to enjoy, such as hobbies, sports, and socializing, because of your drug use.

You continue to use drugs, despite knowing it’s hurting you. It’s causing major problems in your life—blackouts, financial issues , infections, mood swings, depression, paranoia—but you use anyway.

Drug abusers often try to conceal their symptoms and downplay their problem. If you’re worried that a friend or loved one might be abusing drugs, look for the following warning signs:

Physical warning signs 

• Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual.
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns.
• Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
• Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits.
• Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing.
• Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination.

Behavioral warning signs 

• Drop in attendance and performance at work or school.
• Unexplained financial problems; borrowing or stealing.
• Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors.
• Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies.
• Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities).

Psychological warning signs 

• Unexplained change in personality or attitude.
• Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts.
• Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness.
• Lack of motivation; appears lethargic or “spaced out”.
• Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid.

Warning signs of commonly abused recreational drugs

Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking, inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss.

Stimulants (including amphetamines, cocaine, crystal meth): Dilated pupils; hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety; excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times; may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping; weight loss; dry mouth and nose.

Inhalants (glues, aerosols, vapors): Watery eyes; impaired vision, memory and thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes in appetite; anxiety; irritability; lots of cans/aerosols in the trash.

Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP): Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.

Heroin: Contracted pupils; no response of pupils to light; needle marks; sleeping at unusual times; sweating; vomiting; coughing, sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite.

In recent years, prescription drug abuse has become an escalating problem, most commonly involving opioid painkillers, anti-anxiety medications , sedatives, and stimulants . Many people start taking these drugs to cope with a specific medical problem—taking painkillers following injury or surgery, for example. However, over time, increased doses are needed to achieve the same level of pain relief and some users can become physically dependent, experiencing withdrawal symptoms if they try to quit.

One of the earliest warning signs of a developing problem is going through the medication at a faster-than-expected rate. In other cases, people start abusing medication not prescribed for them in order to experience a high, relieve tension, increase alertness, or improve concentration.

[Read: Anxiety Medication]

To avoid developing problems with a prescription medication, it’s important to take it only as directed, use the lowest dose for the shortest period possible, and to talk to your doctor about other methods of treating the problem. Being aware of any signs of dependency can help identify prescription drug problems at an early stage and help to prevent them progressing into an addiction.

Warning signs of commonly abused prescription drugs

Opioid painkillers (including OxyContin, Vicodin, Norco):  Drooping eyes, constricted pupils even in dim light, sudden itching or flushing, slurred speech; drowsiness, lack of energy; inability to concentrate, lack of motivation, decline in performance at work or school; neglecting friendships and social activities.

Anti-anxiety medications, sedatives, and hypnotics (including Xanax, Valium, Ambien):  Contracted pupils; drunk-like, slurred speech, difficulty concentrating, clumsiness; poor judgment, drowsiness, slowed breathing.

Stimulants (including Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, Dexedrine):  Dilated pupils, reduced appetite; agitation, anxiety, irregular heartbeat, high body temperature; insomnia, paranoia.

If you suspect that a friend or family member has a drug problem, here are a few things you can do:

Speak up. Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer your help and support without being judgmental. The earlier addiction is treated, the better. Don’t wait for your loved one to hit rock bottom! List specific examples of your loved one’s behavior that have you worried and urge them to seek help .

Take care of yourself. Stay safe. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations. Don’t get so caught up in someone else’s drug problem that you neglect your own needs. Make sure you have people you can talk to and lean on for support.

[Read: Helping Someone with a Drug Addiction]

Avoid self-blame. You can support a person with a substance abuse problem and encourage treatment , but you can’t force an addict to change. You can’t control your loved one’s decisions. Letting the person accept responsibility for their actions is an essential step along the way to recovery.

Don’t…

• Attempt to threaten, punish, bribe, or preach.
• Make emotional appeals that only add to the user’s feelings of guilt and increase their compulsion to use drugs.
• Cover up or make excuses for the drug abuser, or shield them from the consequences of their drug use.
• Take over the drug abuser’s responsibilities, diminishing their sense of self-worth.
• Hide or throw out drugs.
• Argue with the person when they are high.
• Use drugs with the person.
• Feel guilty or responsible for a drug abuser’s behavior.

Discovering your child uses drugs can generate fear, confusion, and anger. It’s important to remain calm when confronting your teen, and to only do so when everyone is sober. Explain your concerns and make it clear that your concern comes from a place of love. It’s important that your teen feels you are supportive.

Warning signs of teen drug abuse

As with adults, teenage drug abuse isn’t limited to illegal drugs. In fact, teens are more likely to abuse prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including painkillers, stimulants, sedatives, and tranquilizers. In many cases, these drugs are much easier for teens to procure, yet they can have dangerous, even lethal, side effects.

While experimenting with any kind of drug doesn’t automatically lead to drug abuse, early use is a risk factor for developing more serious drug abuse and addiction down the road. Risk of drug abuse also increases greatly during times of transition, such as changing schools, moving, or divorce. The challenge for parents is to distinguish between the normal, often volatile, ups and downs of the teen years and the red flags of substance abuse. These include:

Having bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils ; using eye drops to try to mask these signs

Skipping class ; declining grades; suddenly getting into trouble at school

Missing medications, prescriptions, money or valuables

Acting uncharacteristically isolated , withdrawn, angry, or depressed

Sudden mood changes or repeated health complaints, constant fatigue

Dropping one group of friends for another ; being secretive about the new peer group

Loss of interest in old hobbies ; lying about new interests and activities

Demanding more privacy ; locking doors; avoiding eye contact; sneaking around

7 steps parents can take to curb teen drug use

• Talk openly about the dangers of both illegal and prescription drug use with your kids. Providing a safe and open environment to talk about these issues can make a real difference in the likelihood that they’ll use or abuse drugs.
• Lay down rules and consequences. Your teen should understand that using drugs comes with specific consequences. But don’t make hollow threats or set rules that you cannot enforce—and make sure your spouse agrees and is prepared to enforce the rules. Remind your teen that taking someone else’s prescription or sharing theirs with others is illegal.
• Monitor your teen’s activity. Know where your teen goes and who they hang out with. It’s also important to routinely check potential hiding places for drugs—in backpacks, between books on a shelf, in DVD cases or make-up cases. Monitor your teen’s online activity to check for illegal purchases.
• Keep prescription medicines in a safe place, avoid stockpiling them, and dispose of any unused prescription medicines. Monitor your prescription refills carefully.
• Encourage other interests and social activities. Expose your teen to healthy hobbies and activities, such as team sports and after-school clubs.
• Talk to your child about underlying issues. Drug use can be the result of other problems. Is your teen having trouble fitting in? Has there been a recent major change, like a move or divorce causing stress?
• Get help. Teenagers often rebel against their parents but if they hear the same information from a different authority figure, they may be more inclined to listen. Try a sports coach, family doctor, therapist, or drug counselor.

Addiction is a complex problem that affects every aspect of your life. Overcoming addiction requires reaching out for support and making changes to the way you live, deal with problems, and relate to others. Recovery is within your reach but don’t try to go it alone; it’s very easy to get discouraged and rationalize “just one more.”

Whether you choose to go to rehab, rely on self-help programs, get therapy, or take a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential.

Read: Overcoming Drug Addiction .

Support organizations

Most of these 12-step programs have worldwide chapters:

Narcotics Anonymous

Cocaine Anonymous

Crystal Meth Anonymous

Marijuana Anonymous

Read: NA and Other Peer Support Groups for Drug Addiction

Professional help for drug treatment and recovery

Use the  Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator  , call the  SAMHSA helpline  at 1-800-662-4357,  Get One-on-One Help to Address Your Child’s Substance Use , or call the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids helpline at 1-855-378-4373.

Find  NHS drug addictions support services  or call the  Frank helpline  at 0800 776600.

Finding Quality Addiction Care   (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction)

Find  drug and alcohol services in your State/Territory  (Department of Health & Aging).

More Information

• How can prescription drug addiction be treated? - Treatment options for prescription drug addiction including addiction to opioid painkillers. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Drugs: What to Know - Information on drug and alcohol abuse for teens. (TeensHealth)
• If You Have a Problem with Drugs: For Adults - Step by step guide to getting treatment. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction - Booklet on drug addiction, including its effects on the brain. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)
• One Breath, Twelve Steps - Buddhism-inspired mindful practices for overcoming addiction from a  HelpGuide affiliate . (Sounds True)
• Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. (2013). In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders . American Psychiatric Association. Link
• 2019 National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Releases | CBHSQ Data. (n.d.). Retrieved July 23, 2021, from Link
• Lipari, R. N. (2019). Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Link
• GBD 2016 Alcohol and Drug Use Collaborators. (2018). The global burden of disease attributable to alcohol and drug use in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2016: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet. Psychiatry, 5(12), 987–1012. Link
• Lopez-Quintero, Catalina, José Pérez de los Cobos, Deborah S. Hasin, Mayumi Okuda, Shuai Wang, Bridget F. Grant, and Carlos Blanco. Probability and Predictors of Transition from First Use to Dependence on Nicotine, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Cocaine: Results of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Drug and Alcohol Dependence 115, no. 1–2 (May 1, 2011): 120–30. Link
• Hallfors, D. D., Waller, M. W., Ford, C. A., Halpern, C. T., Brodish, P. H., & Iritani, B. (2004). Adolescent depression and suicide risk: Association with sex and drug behavior. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 27(3), 224–231. Link
• Grant, Bridget F., Frederick S. Stinson, Deborah A. Dawson, S. Patricia Chou, Mary C. Dufour, Wilson Compton, Roger P. Pickering, and Kenneth Kaplan. Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Substance Use Disorders and Independent Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Archives of General Psychiatry 61, no. 8 (August 2004): 807–16. Link
• Santucci, Karen. Psychiatric Disease and Drug Abuse. Current Opinion in Pediatrics 24, no. 2 (April 2012): 233–37. Link
• NIDA. 2018, August 1. Comorbidity: Substance Use Disorders and Other Mental Illnesses. Retrieved from National Institute on Drug Abuse on July 15, 2021. Link
• Self-medication of anxiety symptoms with drugs or alcohol associated with increased risk of developing substance use disorders. (n.d.). ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 15, 2021, from Link
• Harris, Katherine M, and Mark J Edlund. Self-Medication of Mental Health Problems: New Evidence from a National Survey. Health Services Research 40, no. 1 (February 2005): 117–34. Link

More in Addiction

Supporting a loved one’s recovery from drug abuse

Choosing Drug Rehab and Addiction Treatment

A guide to drug addiction services

Coping with addiction and a mental health problem

A guide to alcohol addiction treatment services

Cutting down on alcohol doesn’t have to mean losing your social life

The health risks in young people and how to quit

The hidden risks of drinking

Binge Drinking

Help if you have trouble stopping drinking once you start

Professional therapy, done online

BetterHelp makes starting therapy easy. Take the assessment and get matched with a professional, licensed therapist.

Help us help others

Millions of readers rely on HelpGuide.org for free, evidence-based resources to understand and navigate mental health challenges. Please donate today to help us save, support, and change lives.

Module 9: Health Management

Assignment: substance abuse.

• Explain what substance use and abuse is and identify the warning signs that help may be needed
• Identify resources for further information and guidance about substance abuse
• Pick a topic: Choose alcohol or one of the drugs discussed in this section on Substance Abuse.
• Consider the following scenario: You suspect that one of your college friends may be abusing this drug. Your goal is to educate yourself about the signs of abuse and collect resources that you can share with him/her.
• Cigarettes/Tobacco
• Prescription Pain Medicines
• Research additional sites to identify local resources where someone like your friend might go, or places to call, for help.
• The type of substance
• The behavior(s) you’ve noticed your friend engaging in that worry you and cause you to suspect a substance abuse problem
• The source of your information, which you’re sharing with your friend. For example: “I learned about the signs of heroin abuse from this Web site: . . .”
• Why you think your friend should quit using or cut down
• Your suggestions for what your friend should do and where to seek help. Give the names and contact information for at least 3 resources/organizations you found.
• College Success. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• DEA Publications
• Get Updates

Resources for Educators

Last Updated: Wednesday February 22, 2023

When it comes to preventing drug use among young people, education plays a very important role. This page contains online drug education resources – lesson plans , activities, videos – from different websites targeted to various grade levels that both parents and teachers can use.

Teen vaping – of both tobacco and THC ( marijuana ) – is on the rise and is a growing concern in schools. Check out these resources on the topic.

In addition, get information on how you can help students you think may have a problem , and more.

Get lesson plans and info for the drugs below:

Cocaine | Marijuana | Inhalants | Heroin | Methamphetamine | Opioids  

General drug education resources, operation prevention.

DEA and Discovery Education teamed up to produce Operation Prevention's classroom resources to provide educators with engaging tools that are aligned to national health and science standards and integrate seamlessly into classroom instruction. Through a series of hands-on investigations, these resources introduce students to the science behind opioids and their impact on the brain and body. Go to the site.  

Operation Prevention: Virtual Field Trip

Take your students on a virtual journey! Opioids: Real People. Real Stories. Real Science.  is currently featured on the Operation Prevention website’s Virtual Field Trip section. During the journey, you'll meet two retired professional athletes, a musician and three generations -- all affected by opioid misuse in some way. The trip includes a companion guide that can be used to prepare your students for the “trip.” Go to the site.

Drugs and Your Body - Interactive  (For grades 6-12)

Scholastic and the scientists at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) have created this poster/teaching guide, Drugs + Your Body: It Isn’t Pretty, to provide factual details and critical-thinking questions on the effects drugs have on the developing brain and body.

Poster: http://www.scholastic.com/drugs-and-your-body/

Teachers’ Guide: http://headsup.scholastic.com/teachers/drugs-your-body-it-isnt-pretty

Heads Up: Real News about Drugs and Your Body (For grades 6-12)

NIDA and Scholastic teamed up to create a treasure trove of resources for both teachers and teens about the dangers of drug use in general and the dangers of specific drugs as well. You can access them using the links below.

Teens: http://headsup.scholastic.com/

Teachers:   http://headsup.scholastic.com/teachers/

Empowering Teens: NIDA Toolkit for Out of School Time

This toolkit offers science-based activities and resources on drug use and addiction for educating teens during out of school time (OST). The OST setting—before and after school, in the summer, or any time teens attend a supervised program outside of the typical school time—offers a unique opportunity for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning. Read more.

Drug Facts and Lesson Plans

Are you interested in lessons or activities focused on a specific drug? The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has an awesome Lesson Plan Finder  that features FREE science-based lessons and interactive activities on teens and drugs.  Go to their site to check it out.

Also, see quick facts about each drug below:

Classroom Resources

Tips for Teens: The Truth About Cocaine   (SAMHSA)

Quick Facts  (DEA)

Video Lesson: Stimulants   (DEA and Operation Prevention)

Tips for Teens: The Truth About Heroin   (SAMHSA)

Inhalants: A Looming Threat for All Teens (Scholastic)

Tips for Teens: The Truth About Inhalants   (SAMHSA)

Video Lesson: Inhalants   (DEA and Operation Prevention)

Marijuana: Breaking Down the Buzz  (article)

Marijuana: Facts for Teens   (NIDA)

Tips for Teens: The Truth About Marijuana  (SAMHSA)

Video Lesson: Marijuana   (DEA and Operation Prevention)

Methamphetamine

Tips for Teens: The Truth About Methamphetamine   (SAMHSA)

Quick Facts   (DEA)

Opioids and Prescription Drugs

Opioid Facts for Teens   (NIDA)

Tips for Teens: The Truth About Opioids  (SAMHSA)

Quick Facts (DEA)

Fentanyl    

Vaping Info

Vaping: know the facts (addiction policy forum).

Check out this awareness campaign and toolkit for parents, teachers, school administrators, and teens.

Vaping Posters (Food and Drug Administration)

Print out these posters to hang in your classrooms. The posters feature eye-opening facts about vaping.

What if You Suspect a Student is Using Drugs?

Substance Use Prevention: A Resource Guide for School Staff

If you work in a school setting you may be looking for information about youth substance use, the most commonly used drugs, the latest research and more.  The Office of National Drug Control Policy  recently released a guide for school staff. Read more.

Other Drug Enforcement Administration Websites

Just think twice.

Created by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) specifically for young people, this site provides information about drugs and their consequences. Go to the site.

Campus Drug Prevention

This website is a part of DEA’s effort to support drug abuse prevention programs on college campuses and in surrounding communities. Go to the site.

• school Campus Bookshelves
• menu_book Bookshelves
• perm_media Learning Objects
• login Login
• how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
• hub Instructor Commons
• Download Page (PDF)
• Download Full Book (PDF)
• Periodic Table
• Physics Constants
• Scientific Calculator
• Reference & Cite
• Tools expand_more
• Readability

selected template will load here

This action is not available.

12.1: Drug Abuse and Addiction

• Last updated
• Save as PDF
• Page ID 11193

• Flynn et al.
• Georgia Highlands College via GALILEO Open Learning Materials

What is drug addiction?

Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain by changing its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long- lasting and can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who abuse drugs.

Addiction is a lot like other diseases, such as heart disease. Both disrupt the normal, healthy functioning of the underlying organ, have serious harmful consequences, and are preventable and treatable, but if left untreated, can last a lifetime.

Why do people use drugs?

In general, people begin taking drugs for a variety of reasons:

• To feel good Most abused drugs produce intense feelings of pleasure. This initial sensation of euphoria is followed by other effects, which differ depending on the type of drug used. For example, with stimulants such as cocaine, the “high” is followed by feelings of power, self-confidence, and increased energy. In contrast, the euphoria caused by opiates, such as heroin, is followed by feelings of relaxation and satisfaction.
• To feel better Some people who suffer from social anxiety, stress-related disorders, and depression begin abusing drugs in an attempt to lessen feelings of distress. Stress can play a major role in initial drug use, continuing drug abuse, or relapse in patients recovering from addiction.
• To do better Some people feel pressure to chemically enhance or improve their cognitive or athletic performance, which can play a role in initial experimentation and continued abuse of drugs, such as prescription stimulants or anabolic/androgenic steroids.
• To satisfy their curiosity and "because others are doing it" In this respect, adolescents are particularly vulnerable because of the strong influence of peer pressure. Teens are more likely than adults to engage in risky or daring behaviors to impress their friends and express their independence from parental and social rules.

If taking drugs makes people feel good or better, what's the problem?

When they first use a drug, people may perceive what seem to be positive effects. They may also believe that they can control their use. However, drugs can quickly take over a person’s life. Over time, if drug use continues, other pleasurable activities become less pleasurable and taking the drug becomes necessary for the user just to feel normal . They may then compulsively seek and take drugs even though doing so causes tremendous problems for themselves and their loved ones. Some people may start to feel the need to take higher or more frequent doses, even in the early stages of their drug use. These are the telltale signs of an addiction.

Even relatively moderate drug use poses dangers. Consider how a social drinker can become intoxicated, get behind the wheel of a car, and quickly turn a pleasurable activity into a tragedy that affects many lives.

Is continued drug abuse a voluntary behavior?

The initial decision to take drugs is typically voluntary. However, with continued use, a person’s ability to exert self-control can become seriously impaired; this impairment in self-control is the hallmark of addiction. Brain imaging studies of people with addiction show physical changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment, decision making, learning and memory, and behavior control. Scientists believe that these changes alter the way the brain works and may help explain the compulsive and destructive behaviors of addiction.

Why do some people become addicted to drugs while others do not?

As with any other disease, vulnerability to addiction differs from person to person, and no single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. In general, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs will lead to abuse and addiction. Protective factors , on the other hand, reduce a person’s risk of developing addiction. Risk and protective factors may be either environmental, such as conditions at home, at school, and in the neighborhood, or biological, for instance, a person’s genes, his or her stage of development, and even a person’s gender or ethnicity.

What environmental factors increase the risk of addiction?

• Home and family The influence of the home environment, especially during childhood, is a very important factor. Children with parents or older family members who abuse alcohol or drugs or engage in criminal behavior, have an increased risk of developing their own drug problems.
• Peers and school Friends and acquaintances can have an increasingly strong influence during adolescence. Drug-using peers can sway even those without risk factors to try drugs for the first time. Academic failure or poor social skills can put a child at further risk for using or becoming addicted to drugs.

What biological factors increase risk of addiction?

• Genetics Scientists estimate that genetic factors account for between 40 and 60 percent of a person’s vulnerability to addiction. This includes the effects of environmental factors on the function and expression of a person’s genes. A person’s stage of development and other medical conditions a person may have are also factors. Adolescents and people with mental disorders are at greater risk of drug abuse and addiction than the general population.
• Dramatic changes in brain development that occur during adolescence One of the brain areas still maturing during adolescence is the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain that enables us to assess situations, make sound decisions, and keep our emotions and desires under control. The fact that this critical part of the adolescent brain is a work in progress puts teenagers at increased risk for making poor decisions, such as trying drugs or continuing to take them. Also, introducing drugs during this period of development may cause brain changes that have profound and long-lasting consequences.

What other factors increase the risk of addiction?

• Early use Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, research shows that the earlier a person begins to use drugs, the more likely he or she is to develop serious problems. This increased risk may reflect the harmful effects that drugs can have on the developing brain. It may result from a mix of early social and biological vulnerability factors, including unstable family relationships, exposure to physical or sexual abuse, genetic susceptibility, or mental illness. Still, the fact remains that early use is a strong indicator of problems ahead, including addiction.
• Method of administration Smoking a drug or injecting it into a vein increases its addictive potential. Both smoked and injected drugs enter the brain within seconds, producing a powerful rush of pleasure. However, this intense “high” can fade within a few minutes, taking the abuser down to lower, more normal levels. Scientists believe this starkly felt contrast drives some people to repeated drug usage in an attempt to recapture the fleeting pleasurable state.

• Drugs Abuse

Introduction to drug use and drug abuse

It is almost impossible to cover this lesson in detail, as Drug Abuse is a big issue with many components. In this lesson, we will just focus on the basics of drugs/substance abuse, how it affects you, and what we can do about it.

What is a Drug:

A drug is a general term for any substance that changes the physical, emotional, and mental function of the body. They include tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, over-the-counter medicines, prescribed medicines as well as illicit drugs. These substances are known as Psychoactive Drugs and can change the consciousness, mood, feeling, behavior, and thoughts of the user.

Are Drug Illegal:

Not all drugs are illegal. If you buy an over-the-counter cough suppressant in the shop, it is legal, though it can also be abused. Drugs may be legal in one country, region, state, or city, but illegal in another. You need to know what your country’s laws on drugs are.

Drug types:

There are different kinds of drugs that do different things. The four major kinds include stimulants, depressants, opium/pain killers, and hallucinogens.

Recommended Social Lessons

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

www.rcmp.gc.ca

Common menu bar links

• Français

Home > Centre for Youth Crime Prevention > Drugs and Alcohol > Drugs: Use, Abuse and Addiction - Lesson Plan (Grades 9 & 10) 

Institutional links

Centre for youth crime prevention, get involved.

• National Youth Advisory Committee
• Leave the phone alone
• Youth leadership workshops

Topic pages

• Bullying and cyberbullying
• Impaired driving
• Distracted driving
• Drugs and alcohol
• Online safety
• Youth engagement

Lesson plans

National rcmp.

• About the RCMP
• Publications
• Family Corner

Navigate by

• A-Z site index
• Proactive Disclosure
• Acts and Regulations

Drugs: Use, Abuse and Addiction - Lesson Plan (Grades 9 & 10)

Note: Contact us by e-mail to receive the Lesson Plan PDF version. Requests will be answered between 7:00am and 3:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Objectives:

• To learn about various drugs.
• To identify risk factors and protective factors associated with substance abuse (drugs and alcohol).
• To discuss what addiction is and the consequences of it.
• To determine behaviours that increase well-being and allow students to achieve life goals.
• Activity #1: Name that Drug (9-10.1 Handout)
• Activity #5: Now, it's Your Choice (9-10.5 Handout)

Reference documents are found at the end of this lesson plan.

Activity #1: name that drug (9-10.1 reference), activity #2: recognizing the risks (9-10.2 reference).

• Activity #3: Path to Addiction (9-10.3 Reference)

Activity #4: Consequences of Addiction (9-10.4 Reference)

Other materials:.

• SMART board/chalk board to summarize responses on
• Chart paper and markers for groups to use
• Computer/projector to display slides (optional)
• Masking tape
• Introduction: 5 minutes
• Activity #1: Name that Drug 10 minutes
• Activity #2: Recognizing the Risks 15 minutes
• Activity #3: Scale of Addiction Use 10 minutes
• Activity #4: Consequences of Addiction 15 minutes
• Activity #5: Now, it's Your Choice 5 minutes
• Conclusion 5 minutes

Total: 60 minutes

Presenter Preparation:

• Review the Drugs and Alcohol section of the Centre for Youth Crime Prevention.
• Review the  Objectives  of this lesson plan.
• Identify ways in which you are personally linked to the subject matter. This presentation is general in nature, and will be more effective if you tailor it to your personal experiences, the audience and your community.
• Guest speakers can really have an impact. If there is someone in your community who has been impacted by substance abuse, invite them to speak with the youth. You may also want to consider inviting an RCMP member from the drug section. Please note: Activities will need to be removed or modified to ensure that the time allotment is respected.
• Print the lesson plan and reference documents.
• Print required handouts. Make a few extra copies just to be sure.
• Ensure your location has any technology you require (computer, projector, SMART board, etc.)

A) Introduction

• Introduce yourself.
• Tell the students about your job and why you are there to talk to them. Tell students that in today's class, they will talk about substance abuse, its impacts and ways they can deal with peer pressure related to substance use and abuse. Additionally, different supports to help them deal with the issue will be addressed.
• If you are a police officer, briefly discuss the role of police officers when it comes to substance abuse (i.e. your experience dealing with youth and substance abuse issues).
• Pass out one index card to each student. Explain that this card is to be used for students to write down any question they may have. The presenters will collect them towards the end of the presentation and answer the questions anonymously in front of the group.

B) Activity #1: Name that Drug

Goal: Students will learn about various drugs (including short and long-term health impacts).  Type: Information chart and discussion Time: 10 minutes

• Cut out the drug types and their matching definitions from Activity #1: Name that Drug (9-10.1 Reference) and place them out of order on the board.
• Explain to students that different types of drugs have different effects on our bodies.
• Stimulants: Drugs that make the user hyper and alert.
• Depressants: Drugs that cause a user's body and mind to slow down.
• Hallucinogens: Drugs that disrupt a user's perception of reality and cause them to imagine experiences and objects that seem real.
• Ask students to match up the fact with the drug as a class. Go over the answers.
• Ask the students to read over the handout Activity #1: Name that Drug (9-10.1 Handout) and start a discussion based on what the students read. Encourage all students to participate to the discussion by asking questions, such as: "What is a drug?" "What do drugs do?" "What happens when a person uses drugs?" "What are drugs used for?" "Do drugs affect everyone in the same way?" "Can drugs be prescribed by a doctor?"

C) Activity #2: Recognizing the Risks

Goal: Students will recognize protective and risk factors associated with substance abuse and addiction and learn the importance of resilient factors. Type: T-chart and group activity Time: 15 minutes Step #1:

• Resiliency: The ability to become strong, healthy and successful after something bad happens to you ( www.merriam-webster.com 2014).
• Risk Factors: Factors that can lead to drug use.
• Protective Factors: Factors that can shield from drug use.( http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/docas-ssdco/guide-kid-enf/page3-eng.htm ).
• Ask the students to get into groups of 3 or 4.
• Create a chart on the SMART board, chalkboard or overhead with two titles: (1) Risk Factors & (2) Protective Factors . Ask students to identify examples of risk factors when it comes to substance abuse, alcohol and addiction and record their answers. Then ask students to identify some examples of protective factors that could be associated with not using drugs and alcohol or getting addicted. Use Activity #2: Recognizing the Risks (9-10.2 Reference) as a guide.
• If time allows, give each group playing cards and tell them to work together to make a card house for 5 minutes.
• Explain that in this activity, each card represents a protective and resilience factor, and when those factors fail or diminish the structure will fall.

D) Activity #3: Path to Addiction

Goal: Students will discuss how addiction can impact a person's lifestyle. Type: Discussion and group activity Time: 10 minutes

• Ask students to define what addiction is as well as the substances a person can become addicted to.
• Make sure to include that both drugs and alcohol can be addictive.
• Explain to students that addiction is an ongoing process. Addiction may present its challenges at different times over many years in a user's life.
• Write each stage on a different piece of paper. Ask for 5 volunteers to come to the front of the class and give each student a stage.
• Have the student volunteers work together to arrange themselves in the order that they think the scale of addiction occurs in.
• With the students, define each stage of addiction. Discuss the answers with students and use Activity #3: Path to Addiction (9-10.3 Reference) as a guide.

E) Activity #4: Consequences of Addiction

Goal: Students will examine the consequences of addiction on all facets of life. Type: 5 corners activity and group discussion Time: 10 minutes

• Separate the students into 5 different groups.
• Have the students get into their groups and give each group a piece of chart paper. Assign each of the five groups one of the topics: (1) Family, (2) Friends & Recreation, (3) School & Jobs, (4) Physical & Emotional Health, and (5) Financial. Have each group write the topic on their piece of chart paper.
• Ask each group to brainstorm and record the consequences of an addiction relating to their topic.
• Give the groups 5 minutes to come up with a hashtag that represents how they might be affected in that aspect of their life.
• Discuss answers with the group.

F) Activity #5: Now, it's Your Choice

Goal: Students will commit to a healthy lifestyle Type: 5 corners activity and group discussion Time: 15 minutes

• Distribute Activity #5: Now, it's Your Choice (9-10.5 Handout) and ask the students to answer the question.

Step #2: (Homework)

• As part of their homework from the presentation, ask all the students to make the pledge to say no to drugs on the National Anti-Drug Strategy website: http://nationalantidrugstrategy.gc.ca/prevention/youth-jeunes/index.html and click on "Make a Pledge." Tell them to print the pledge they submitted and display them around the classroom or school.

G) Conclusion

• To conclude the lesson, summarize the important points and highlights of your discussion throughout the session.
• Collect all index cards from students. Take some time to answer any questions from the cards that the students may have had.
• Leave students with information about how to contact you if they have any follow up questions they didn't want to ask in class.

Reference documents

(Adapted from: Alberta Health Services  www.albertahealthservices.ca/2677.asp )

Activity #3: Scale of Addiction Use (9-10.3 Reference)

(Adapted from: Alberta Health Services http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2677.asp )

Taking 'Study Drugs' Like Adderall Could Be Gateway to More Drug Abuse

Taking 'Study Drugs' Like Adderall Could Be Gateway to More Drug Abuse

By Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, March 14, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- College students who use drugs like Adderall to help them focus on their studies may be setting themselves up for trouble.

Researchers asked 700 undergraduates across the United States about drugs commonly used by students — including ADHD medications like Adderall, cannabis, nicotine, alcohol, MDMA and ecstasy. They also asked about students' academic performance and physical and mental distress.

They found that using one substance appears to prime the brain for using others.

Lead author Lina Begdache , an associate professor of health and wellness studies at Binghamton University, State University of New York, said the finding is important because many students use these so-called "study drugs" without understanding how they affect the brain.

U.S. Cities With the Most Homelessness

Adderall is a medication prescribed to help people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) focus.

"Since these are prescribed medications to promote focus in individuals who actually have ADHD, students may think that they are safe to use and that the drug may give them an academic edge," she said in a university news release.

Instead of an edge, students may find one substance leads to another, Begdache warned. 

Researchers linked use of one substance to generally poorer mental health and lower ability to fight off stress. And less frequent use led to mental distress — potentially promoting continued use.

The findings were published recently in the International Journal of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences .

"Substance use promotes the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is responsible for the initial euphoria and feelings of pleasure," Bedache said. "The continuous activation of the limbic system through drug use leads to dependence, in a sense that this substance is no longer producing pleasurable feelings, individuals have to either increase the dose or resort to something more potent."

Begdache leads the Binghamton Student Managed Adderall Research Team, which is investigating the harmful effects of Adderall abuse on college students. 

"The repeated feedback we receive from students is that they wish they knew this information earlier," she said. "Lack of education and peer pressure are the main drivers."

More information

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has more about adderall abuse .

SOURCE: Binghamton University, news release, March 11, 2024

Copyright © 2024 HealthDay . All rights reserved.

Join the Conversation

Tags: drug abuse , psychology , addiction

Best Countries

Health News Bulletin

Stay informed on the latest news on health and COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report.

Sign in to manage your newsletters »

Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. By clicking submit, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy .

You May Also Like

The 10 worst presidents.

U.S. News Staff Feb. 23, 2024

Cartoons on President Donald Trump

Feb. 1, 2017, at 1:24 p.m.

Photos: Obama Behind the Scenes

April 8, 2022

Photos: Who Supports Joe Biden?

March 11, 2020

March Madness: Fed, Budget Spell Upset

Tim Smart March 18, 2024

Trump’s Strategy of Delay Is Working

Lauren Camera March 15, 2024

Judge: Willis Can Stay on Trump Case

What a Trump 2.0 Economy Would Look Like

Tim Smart March 15, 2024

The Never-Ending Battle Over Abortion

Susan Milligan March 14, 2024

EXPLAINER: Change Healthcare Cyberattack

Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder March 14, 2024

Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction Preventing Drug Misuse and Addiction: The Best Strategy

Why is adolescence a critical time for preventing drug addiction.

As noted previously, early use of drugs increases a person's chances of becoming addicted. Remember, drugs change the brain—and this can lead to addiction and other serious problems. So, preventing early use of drugs or alcohol may go a long way in reducing these risks.

Risk of drug use increases greatly during times of transition. For an adult, a divorce or loss of a job may increase the risk of drug use. For a teenager, risky times include moving, family divorce, or changing schools. 35  When children advance from elementary through middle school, they face new and challenging social, family, and academic situations. Often during this period, children are exposed to substances such as cigarettes and alcohol for the first time. When they enter high school, teens may encounter greater availability of drugs, drug use by older teens, and social activities where drugs are used. When individuals leave high school and live more independently, either in college or as an employed adult, they may find themselves exposed to drug use while separated from the protective structure provided by family and school.

A certain amount of risk-taking is a normal part of adolescent development. The desire to try new things and become more independent is healthy, but it may also increase teens’ tendencies to experiment with drugs. The parts of the brain that control judgment and decision-making do not fully develop until people are in their early or mid-20s. This limits a teen’s ability to accurately assess the risks of drug experimentation and makes young people more vulnerable to peer pressure. 36

Because the brain is still developing, using drugs at this age has more potential to disrupt brain function in areas critical to motivation, memory, learning, judgment, and behavior control. 12  

Can research-based programs prevent drug addiction in youth?

Yes.  The term research-based or evidence-based means that these programs have been designed based on current scientific evidence, thoroughly tested, and shown to produce positive results. Scientists have developed a broad range of programs that positively alter the balance between risk and protective factors for drug use in families, schools, and communities. Studies have shown that research-based programs, such as described in NIDA’s  Principles of Substance Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood: A Research-Based Guide   and  Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders , can significantly reduce early use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. 37  Also, while many social and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people perceive drug use as harmful, they often reduce their level of use. 38

How do research-based prevention programs work?

These prevention programs work to boost protective factors and eliminate or reduce risk factors for drug use. The programs are designed for various ages and can be used in individual or group settings, such as the school and home. There are three types of programs:

• Universal programs address risk and protective factors common to all children in a given setting, such as a school or community.
• Selective programs are for groups of children and teens who have specific factors that put them at increased risk of drug use.
• Indicated programs are designed for youth who have already started using drugs.

Young Brains Under Study

Using cutting-edge imaging technology, scientists from the NIDA’s Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study will look at how childhood experiences, including use of any drugs, interact with each other and with a child’s changing biology to affect brain development and social, behavioral, academic, health, and other outcomes. As the only study of its kind, the ABCD study will yield critical insights into the foundational aspects of adolescence that shape a person’s future.

Economics of Prevention

Evidence-based interventions for substance use can save society money in medical costs and help individuals remain productive members of society. Such programs can return anywhere from very little to $65 per every dollar invested in prevention. 39

Sample details

• Social Issues
• Words: 1042
• Views: 4,090

Related Topics

• Same Sex Marriage
• Prejudice and discrimination
• Human Nature
• Gun Control
• Urbanization
• Social norm
• Social isolation
• Black Lives Matter
• Affirmative Action
• Immigration
• Prison overcrowding

DRUG ABUSE Assignment

Use of these drugs often incurs criminal penalty in addition to the potential for physical, social, and psychological harm” (The Free Dictionary, 2013). According to the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, “over 80 percent of high school students have used alcohol; over 40 percent have used marijuana; 16 percent have used cocaine, crack, or freebase; and over 20 percent have sniffed or inhaled intoxication substances” (Encyclopedia of Special Education, 2007). Before this assignment, we knew that drug abuse was a problem but we never took the time o realize who is affected.

After the assignment, we noticed that everyone in a society is affected, whether directly or indirectly. Even if you don’t know anyone personally that is affected by drug abuse, it is often a problem carried on for generations. We chose to do the basic critical thinking/questioning approach for our social analysis approach. We chose to use this approach because of the questions and answers. It was also a way for all of us to see the problems of drug abuse and how everyone is affected. Social Analysis What is the social problem?

ready to help you now

Without paying upfront

The social problem is drug abuse and addiction in a society and its harmful consequences to the people involved. Who defines it? Drug abuse is a social problem defined by anyone in a society. Drugs affect addicts, families and communities. “The abuse of legal substances, like alcohol and tobacco, and the use of illegal substances, such as marijuana or cocaine, can be costly for society. Some illegal drug abusers commit crimes in order to support their drug habit leading to an increase in the rate of violent and nonviolent crime in drug ridden communities.

Drug abuse can affect a variety f social institutions by contributing to work place absenteeism, work-related accidents, and poor work performance. Last, excessive use of drugs can cause illness and death costing society billions of dollars in health care and lowered productivity” (World of Sociology, 2001 Why is it considered a social problem? Drug abuse is considered a social problem because it affects people of all age groups, genders and backgrounds. Consumption of illegal drugs can affect the life of a person socially. In many countries, cigarette smoking has been stated to be a main cause for premature deaths.

Mothers with a drug dependency pass on the issues to their children. This is also a problem because two generations are affected and this also affects health care. When a child is affected, this creates a hostile environment for children, creating another circle of affects in a society. Broken laws are also a result of drug abuse because people commit crimes to get money to fulfill their need for drugs. Who benefits? The only people who benefit in drug abuse are drug dealers and traffickers. When people get addicted to drugs, they create a business for the drug dealers. Who loses?

Everyone else in a society besides drug dealers and traffickers loses. This includes young children, teenagers, adults and elderly people. When a mother or father abuses drugs, this creates a problem for children and teenagers. When children or teenagers are affected, this creates a problem for the education system because they’re less likely to graduate from school and fail to make a career. “Every year an estimated 210 million people use illicit drugs, with almost 200,000 of them dying annually” (NOD, 2013). What is the cost? Drug abuse can lead to death and drug dependency.

The addict depends on others in order to survive because they’re not stable enough to function in a normal environment. Economically, adults can’t afford to live in a society. They spend all their money on drugs and cannot provide for their families, sometimes resulting in losing their house and family. What are some solutions? Since drug abuse is a very sensitive topic to talk about, there are limited chances to help those who are involved in this social problem. Nowadays, illicit drugs can be found almost everywhere, at the work place, schools, streets etc.

One recommendation would be try to avoid consuming illegal drugs because there are many negative consequences due to the use of them. Some of the unpleasant consequences would be: lost of job, friends, quarrels between family members, etc. Another thing to be taken in consideration is to help others who are involved in using these illicit drugs. Although it is hard to accept that our loved one is under the influence of these drugs, family and friends should not just overlook this problem. Instead, they should give them a hand to escape from that dangerous addiction.

From the government’s perspective, they can create stricter laws to stop drug trafficking. Everyone in a society can help reduce drug abuse by educating. Education creates awareness among people and it also provides knowledge about consequences of drug abuse. Recommendations for Social Action As students in a society, we can help by holding rallies, protests and demonstrations against drug abuse, this can create a general awareness among the people against the disadvantages of drug abuse. We could also volunteer with the drug rehabilitation programs.

If we know anyone suffering from drug addiction, we can motivate and also educate them. Action Plan There are different forms of social action and ways people can work together to create change. A problem such as drug abuse requires a community effort to get involved and be vigilant. Organized meetings and protests will create a social awareness and demonstrations against the abuse of illicit drugs. More governmental legislation that targets drug trafficking and stricter penalties to effectively crack down on the distribution of drugs on the streets can reduce drug abuse.

Educating people in a community on the consequences of drug buses and the downward spiral that follows will be a huge step in resolving the issue. Parents of adolescence should have training to detect drug use in the home and ways to handle an “at risk” child. With all these steps, we would be on a pathway to saving our future generations and possibly end illegal drug abuse. Conclusion Drug abuse is a global problem which affects everyone in an environment. Even with new laws and regulations, the drug trade business is continuously increasing. To reduce drug abuse and stop it for good, work needs to be done at the starting level.

Cite this page

https://graduateway.com/drug-abuse-assignment/

You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers

• Social movements
• Prostitution
• Social Class
• Discrimination
• Human Rights
• Teenage Suicide
• Social inequality
• Gender Issues

Check more samples on your topics

Drug –drug interactions: can a person take aspirin with “pepto-bismol” bismuth.

The generic name Aspirin belongs to a group of compounds termed as Salicylates. It is usually in the form of “acetyl salicylic acid”. The compound works with different properties in different concentrations. At a low dose it has an anti platelet effect. At a slightly increased dose it has more of an antipyretic effect and

Should Non-Violent Drug Offenders Be Remanded to Drug Court

Moore_Argument Essay February 18, 2013 Should Non-Violent Drug Offenders Be Remanded to Drug Court Pablo Rayo Montano and Rita Faye Myers two people in comparison, entirely different, yet both are currently incarcerated on drug related charges. The only commonality shared with the two incarcerations is the word “drug” the severity and the type of crimes

Drug Abuse In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Background Study Drug maltreatment is a cause of concern to all states around the universe either in developing states and undeveloped states and in both instances the most affected are the young person, . Due to the rapid addition in drug related offense and drug maltreaters in Asiatic states, the constitution of effectual countermeasures for demand

Neuroticism and Drug Abuse

Big Five personality traits

Research on neurotics, a primary division of personality, is extensive: many studies have found that scores of neurotics are relate and are predictive of life stress, emotional and psychological disorders, and substance abuse. Personality was inventoried using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) and the Essence Personality Inventory (PEP). An individual's drug abuse was consistently

Prescription drug abuse argumentative

More than 60% of teenagers said that drugs were sold, used or kept at their school. Which means more then of children have been around drugs or people who have drugs. What effects could such a thing have on the average Canadian family? As defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, drug use

Alcohol or Drug Abuse During Pregnancy May Reduce Activity of the Nerve Cells

Hyperactivity only Mainly impulsive/ diminished hyperactivity Predominantly inattentive ADD Masking of core symptoms Predominantly inattentive Combined type of 'Hyperactivity & predominantly inattentive What Causes ADD? Parents may blame themselves when a child is diagnosed with ADD, but the causes are more likely to do with inherited traits than parenting choices. At the same time, certain

Drug Abuse In America

Dangers of Anabolic SteroidsIn the past three decades, steroids has been becoming a serious problem more than ever in the athletic field. Steroids areanabolic drug to build growth hormones that include the androgens (male sex hormones) principally testosterone and estrogen and progestogens (female sex hormones). Steroids were first developed for medical purposes. They're used in

NAFDAC and Drug Abuse

In the world today, abusing of drugs have come to b something that's very common among youth in the society. This does not take the fact away that there are some elites and average class fellas who as well indulge in the act. Drug in itself is any form of substance that has the ability

Drug Addiction and Abuse

Abstract: Abuse of many classes of prescribed drugs has magnified markedly within the us within the past decade and is currently at dire levels for sure agents, particularly opioid analgesics and stimulants. prescribed drugs of abuse work into identical medicine categories as their non-prescription counterparts. Thus, the potential factors related to abuse or addiction versus safe

Hi, my name is Amy 👋

In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.

Introduction:

Statement of the problem

No nation on earth is untouched by the effects of drug abuse. The problem has reached such a proportion that it has become a global threat . From the impoverished villages where drugs are grown to the modern cities where they are ultimately sold, drugs follow a complex route that hits every country in the world; Bangladesh is no exception. As drug abuse and international drug trade are ever increasing global threats. There are millions of drug-addicted people in Bangladesh and most of them are young, between the ages of 18 and 30. And they are from all strata of the society.

A recent epidemiological survey carried out in RajshahiCity shows that the City is going to be transformed into a potential user of drugs with the rapid increase in the number of addicts. It also such that deadly impact of it on the society. For the safety of our people and the society from this deadly game, we have to control illicit drug transportation immediately. Bangladesh finds itself struggling against a powerful force that has become a “menace to the society.”

Objectives of the Study

(a) To obtain the present scenarios of drug addiction of young generation.

(b) To find out the impact of drug addiction

(c) To find out the causes or taking survey.

(d) To give recommendation to save the problem

Scope of the Term Paper

The scope of the term paper is as follows:

(a) The present scenario of drug addiction especially among the young generation in RajshahiCity.

(b) Description of different types of drugs

(c) Impact of drug addiction

(d) Discussion and data analysis

(e) Main findings of research

(f) Rehabilitation of addicted

(g) Recommendation

Research Methodology

Recent trend in Drug Addiction in Rajshahi city is most talked topic  in our country. It is not possible for me to collect the primary data for shortage of time. I have dependent on secondary data. So it is a descriptive term paper. In this regard data has been collected from different type of reference books. journals. newspaper. research reports, website. etc.

  Definition of variables

Drug is an illegal substance that some people smoke injected etc. to give them pleasant  or exciting takings such as : Yaba, Heroin, ganja, phensidyl etc.

Drug addictives menu getting habituated with stimulating drugs without taking which a user doesn’t fell  well even for a single moment and resists in death in most cause.

Drug addiction :

Addiction means strong attractions to any bad thing. Drug addiction means getting habituated with stimulating drugs without taking which a user does not feel well even for a single moment and results in death in most cases.

Review  of Literature

There have many reports, books and journal on drug addiction, but there have few reports books, journals I found on recent trend in drug addiction in RajshahiCity.

So for preparing this term paper I have depended on those reports, books and Journals which are indirectly related to this  subject. I have got many help from these sources to prepare my term paper.

Drug addiction of young generation and it’s impact is a sensitive subject. So it is very difficult to write  on this subject in shot time. For its sensitive character it is also very difficult to get the respondents opinion. Practically as a trainee of foundation training course, I have not get enough time to make this term paper innovative , resourceful resource full and effective. However It is prepared by my hard work and cordial effort. So, I wish, this term paper could be able to make some outcome in future for the nation and for the research.

Chapter – B

Current Scenario :

At present, according to several sources like Dr. Robert Kelly, country director of Family Health International and Psychiatrist Dr. Shamim Chowdhury, the drug scenario in  Rajshahi city  has taken a serious turn.

The number of drug addicts has increased alarmingly, especially among the young generation in the past few years. Earlier, drug addiction was associated with lower clear of the city . These days it has become a pressing problem for all segments of the society. People from all walks of life; students, teachers, businessmen, rickshaw pullers and workers are all becoming addicted to chemical substance. Surprisingly School Student are  getting  addicted to it . Research shows that many of the users first take drugs as a sort of experiment or adventure. It is considered “trendy” and “smart” among the youngsters to indulge in them. After using the drug several times, they develop an overwhelming craving for the substance, often accompanied by physical dependence and gradually gliding into addiction. The addicts will resort to anything to acquire the drug of their choice. As a large percentage of the addicts are not financially independent, many of them resort to criminal activities to support the habit.

Types of drugs found in Rajshahi City

There are three types of drugs available in use in Bangladesh.

          a) Yaba

          b) Heroin

          c) Phensidyl

          d) Tidijesic

          e) Pethidine

2. Cannabis

          a) Ganja

          b) Chorosh

          c) Bhang

3. Sleeping pill

          a) Tranquilizer

          b) Seduxene (Diazapam)

          c) Opium

In Rajshahi city the drugs mostly in use are Yaba ,phensidyl, cannabis and heroine. There is also an increasing number of Intravenous Drug Users or IDUs in Rajshahi city.

Yaba is a very dangerous drug which came to Bangladesh very recent. It is so dangerous that its users may fall in death in a short time. It mainly affects the users Kidney and Lunge. Now it can safely be said that Yaba is the most popular drug among the youngsters in RajshahiCity. Most of the addicted students who came from high family are addicted to Yaba. Yaba is prepared in the shape of Tablet or Pill. It has different colours and it look so attractive. Young smart girls and boys are used to supply this drugs. Mainly it came from Thailand.

Phensidyl :

Phensidyl is one of the most popular drug among the youngsters in the city. In the article The drug scenario in Rajshahi, it states that the main ingredient of phensidyl is codeine phosphate. Codeine dulls the sensation and produces an artificial sense of comfort artificial sense of comfort. School students to take phensidyl greatly because of its being cheap.

Ganja or cannabis was legally cultivated in Bangladesh for a long time. However, most of the cannabis used here are smuggled from India, Nepal and Myanmar and is much more potent. Cannabis is widely used in the country because of its low price and ample availability. This drug has been glamorized amongst youngsters by its use by western pop stars like Bob Marley and Jim Morrison. Surprisingly, many of the Bengali band musicians also follow suit and that provokes the adolescent clan even more and school students love to follow them blindly.

Heroin, a derivative of opium was initially introduced as a painkiller. It is the most dangerous drug in the sense that people can get addicted from the first day of using it .

Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs)

Recently, according to Dr Robert Kelly, the country Director of Family Health International, a group of addicts known as Intravenous Drug Users have started mushrooming. The new trend has brought in a high extent of vulnerability towards HIV/AIDS. He also added that according to available data, 90% of IDUs acquire this disease through the sharing of needles.

The drug that is injected by IDUs is called buprenorphine or tejiti acid locally. The addicts push the needle into their skin and wait for it to bleed which is the sign that it has hit the vein and then pushes the needle in.

ALARMING USE OF YABA IN POSH AREAS

The use of Yaba had been sweeping through the youth populace in the city’s posh neighborhoods until the recent hauls.

It began to spread at an alarming pace since the launch of a massive clampdown on heroin and Phensidyle dealers about a year ago. More and more youths in areas like Upasashar, Laxmipur and Padma Abashik switched to the deadly pills with heroin and Phensidyle becoming less available.

Yaba, Thai for ‘crazy medicines’, however has been the drug of choice among a section for quite a long time now. But as most of the pushers were from families having close connection with the past governments they could not be tough on them, leading to its steady spread.

Narcotics official seeking anonymity told The Daily Star, “We did not dare to challenge the suspected traders though we knew well how some people in luxury cars were peddling the drug.”

A high official of the police said, “Most of the users are students of private universities, colleges and A- and O-level. They think they were above the law in the last five years. But the situation changed after the caretaker government came to office. We have been working without interference for the last one year and the recent hauls are a result of those sincere efforts.”

Citing information gleaned at different times, Sub-Inspector Belayet Hossain of the Department of Narcotics Control ( DNC ) told The Daily Star recently that around one-sixth students of the city’s private universities might be hooked on Yaba, a composite of methamphetamine and caffeine. Even more chilling is the way students of English-medium schools are getting into it.

He added that after the recent seizures many students are coming to them to describe how the drug has been playing havoc with their fellows.

“We now fear maybe well over 20 percent of the students are taking Yaba regularly,” observed Belayet adding that not only those from affluent families but also the ones from higher middle class and middle class are turning to Yaba.

He said they would be able to have solid information in this regard after an extensive survey that they are planning to launch across the educational institutions in the city next month.

Most of the pushers themselves are in the dangerous trade mainly to bear the whopping cost of their daily drug needs.

According to the Narcotics Control Act, if the quantity of amphetamine does not exceed five grams, imprisonment for a term shall not be less than six months and shall not exceed three years. But if the quantity is more than six grams, the term shall not be less than five years and shall not exceed 15 years.

Acting deputy director of DNC Mukul Jyoti Chakma said Yaba began to roll on to the local scene at the turn of the millennium. Its use took a sharp upward turn in 2005.

Initially, a pill would sell at Tk 800 to Tk 1,000. But with supply becoming plentiful over the last few years the price has come down to Tk 200-500 depending on quality, said sources close to the trade.

Although one of the key functions of the DNC is to gather information on drug use and trafficking routes, none of its officials could give an estimate of how many might be in Yaba trade.

A user who this correspondent had managed to talk to say, “I know over 20 people alone in Dhanmondi area who sell Yaba. Now you do the math how many are there in the entire city.” 1

TRAFFICKING ROUTE

During the late 90s, Yaba would be smuggled in from Thailand in small amount. Since 2000, it began to enter the country in large numbers from Myanmar through Teknaf border. Now there is a vast cartel operating on either side of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.

An investigation by The Daily Star reveals that dealers in the source area never go out of their localities. They employ mules for the tablets to reach the capital. Some dealers from Rajshahi would prefer ferrying the pills themselves from Teknaf and Cox’s Bazar since there had been little risk of being busted on the way.

A youth who along with a friend was involved in the trade shared with this correspondent a detailed account of how they operated. He said they got into the business after a friend from a rich family convinced them how they could make some fast buck out of it.

They were smart enough to hit the right spot in Teknaf. They did not have to go anywhere; their Teknaf connection arranged it all. All they had to was carrying the pills to Rajshahi, which was anything but risky then.

Like many others in the business, they would wear specially tailored shirts to carry the drug. The shirts are made in a way that whenever one raises his/her arms the hidden pockets move out of the area to be searched. Unless the law enforcers did a strip-search it was hard for them to find the tablets.

Most of the time the two would carry around 500 pills and take passenger buses. Around a year ago they would buy a pill usually at Tk 100 and sell that to dealers in Dhaka for Tk 200-220. The end users would have to count Tk 350-Tk 500. Initially, it was tough to win the confidence of the dealers in Rajshahi as they suspected the two might be planted by police or Rab.

Asked for some names of those who are active in the capital, he said he knew only two major dealers—one in his late thirties would operate from a Chinese restaurant in Shahebbazar and the other from his house located between Star Kebab crossing and Harupur  in Court area. Panchabati and Dargapara are hubs of drug selling.

Meanwhile, a police official said they suspect that besides smuggling, the sellers depend on clandestine laboratories as well to produce the pills.

MODUS OPERANDI

The traders first target one or two students to be their mules. They pick usually

those who are already on some kind of drugs since they are easier to be pushed into taking the pills. At the beginning, they supply Yaba for free but once the youths get dependent, they begin charging them. Eventually they make them peddle the tablets among fellow students for the money needed to meet their own daily doses.

Besides being able to feed their addiction, the pushers make a hefty amount out of the business.

TYPES, USAGE METHOD AND EFFECTS

Of several types of pills smuggled into Bangladesh, ‘Golapjam’ or ‘Golapi 1 or ‘Golap’ (pink pill ) is the most widely used for its longer duration of action and potency. Then come ‘Laal Kutta’ (red dog), green, mango, orange and others. These tablets are usually about the size of the end of a drinking straw. They come in different flavours.

According to the US Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DBA ) fact sheets on Yaba, effects of its usage include addiction, psychotic behaviour, and brain damage. Chronic use can cause violent behaviour, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, delusions, and paranoia.

A former seller in Rajshahi said fake Yaba tablets that come mainly from the Mitford hospital area pose an even more risk since a mix-up over maintaining the proportion of ingredients could mean a disaster for the users.

Yaba can be consumed in various ways. It can be smoked, snorted, injected or orally ingested. The most preferred way is having it like heroin. In this method, users place the tablet on aluminium foil and heat it from below. They smoke the vapours that rise after the pills are melted.

Though it increases the addiction potential and more adverse health consequences, the technique is popular because in that way it reaches the brain cells faster, leading to stronger kicks.

Reasons for being addicted to drugs

Easy access to drugs :

That is the most important reason. RajshahiCity is the safest place for using drugs from one place to another place because of its geographical location so different types of drug can easily access to the city.

Unemployment Problem:

Most of the young including educated or little educated or not educated are still now unemployed. For this unemployment many of them are suffering from frustration and finally they become addicted to drug.

Estranges in love :

 Many youngsters fall in love in their teenage period. And in most of the cases many of them become failure in love and comit to drug addiction.

Family Problems :

Mental Stress due to family problem in the age of globalization in Bangladesh many families become nuclear family and the number of brones famill increasing day by day. for this remove young suffering from such problem and taking drugs.

Sources of money of buying drugs

* From own income

* From pocket money

* Loan from friends, family members

* Collect money by criminal activities like hijacking, extortion etc.

Where from respondents collect drugs/the nearest drug spots

Specific sellers in the locality

Drug smugglers in town

Houses near border area

Drug smugglers in border crossing points

From police, BDR

Spots beside lanes/roads

Causes why respondents change drugs one after another

* A tendency to increase the dose because the same dose doesn’t create the desired effect.

* Impatience in body an insomnia in not having drug after a certain time.

* A psychological and physical dependence on the effects of the drugs.

to feel better

* Easy access to other drugs

* Lower cost

* Adventure in tasting different drugs

* Desire to have an extreme  taste of addiction

Impact of  drug addictions

Undoubtly it can be said that drug addictions a great problem to our Dhaka city. Its impact is very dangerous. Any drug addict cannot lead his own life normally. In the final stage he commits to death. The research shown two ways impact of drug addiction :

(a)  Social Impact

(i)                Increased Hijack

(ii)             Increased stealing, robbery

(iii)           Increased persona land family expenditure

(iv)           Lost of interest in education

(b) Impact on body and mind :

(i)                Physical loss

(ii)             The victim can not have a sound sleep

(iii)           Sense of perception does not work

(iv)            Hallucination

(v)             Decreased working capacity

Personal Profile: The victim of this case is a young chap named Khaled. Though  he is 15 years of age, he looks like a man of decline years. He continued up to class eight and afterwards was involved in a clothing business. His monthly income is around Tk. 3000. His father also earns. Total family member is 7.

Main findings: He has been using drugs for 2 years. He started to use drugs since he was a schoolboy. Firstly, his friends introduced him to drugs as a means of enjoyment. Gradually he became addicted. He started with ‘ganja’. He sometimes changes his drugs to meet his satisfaction level. He changes drugs one after another from ‘ganja’ ‘phensidyl’, and ‘wine’ to ‘heroin’. Now he is fully addicted to ‘heroin’, and has to take it four times in day.  Without having it he can’t do anything. He has to take at least two ‘puria’s os ‘heroin’ every morning. A psychological and physical dependence has grown in his body. He spends Tk. 80-100 everyday for drugs. Sometimes, for collecting money, he turns to hijacking. He collects drugs from local spots or from particular persons. These drugs come mainly from India through Bibir Bazar border area.

Personal Profile: He is Masum (13), looks healthy, studying at class nine. His monthly pocket money is approximately Tk. 1000. His father is the only earning member of the family consisting of seven members.

Main findings: He has been drug abused for the last 2 years. He started drugs as enjoyment through friends. He started with ‘ganja’. He changes his drugs for more satisfaction. Now he is fully addicted to ‘heroin’, and has to take it at least twice a day. Without having it he can’t do anything. He has to take at least a puria herion every morning. He spends Tk. 80-100 everyday for drugs purposes. For the excess money, sometimes he takes loan from friends or steals his own household materials. He collects drugs from the local spots or a particular person.

Extent of drug abuse in Rajshahi City :

The number of drug users and traders in Rajshahi city has increased sharphy is recent years. According to Department of Narcoties Control, the number of drug users in RajshahiCity are increased day by day –

Year                                             Number of drug users

1990                                             25,000

1996                                             32,000

1997                                             35,000

2001                                             42,000

2007                                             more than 52,000

According to International Drug control programme, the drug takers spend a total of Tk. 50,000 million on drug every year are average of Tk. 130 for every drug user every year.

Table – 2

Classification of drug users according to ages:

Age                                               Users (%)

16-35                                            70%

Ohters                                          30%

Table – 3

According to the occupation

Occupation                                   Users (%)

Un employed                                34%

Small traders                                23%

Students                                       37%

[According to central  drug addict treatment of Dhaka]

Figures cited by International Drug Programme Showed that drug taking rife among the educated class. Some 440000 of this class, a third of them are students, are taking a wide range of drugs.

Thirty seven percent of all drug addicts are students of whom 15 percent are addicated to heroin and phenlidyl syrup, 13 percent to pathedrine injection, 6 percent of hashish and 3 percent to alcohol. Very recently most of the addicted students who came from high family, are addicated to yaba.

Over 1500 truck and bus drivers in RajshahiCity, are taking addictive drugs, Causing a sharp rise in the number of road accidents and resultant deaths. Officials of criminal investigation Department of police said that six is every ten road accidents are caused by drivers who are high on drugs.

The Organizations involved for rehabilitation:

Bangladesh has quite a few drug treatment centers. Two prominent drug treatment centers are Mukti and Prottay. Unfortunately they only provide medical treatment and which usually leads to unsuccessful outcome. As a result, addiction remains a huge problem in the country. In Rajshahi  city  there is no drug rehab centre. Parents usually  prefer to send their  addicted  kids to jail . Some NGOS are engaged in providing  rehabilitation  to the addicted  but their  working area is limited.

Main findings of research

The rexvits which is from my Topic- resent trend in drug addiction in Rajshahi city and  it’s impact are as follows:

 – RajshahiCity is in a great threat for being drug addicted to most of the young especially school going students.

–  The main reason of drug addiction is family conflict.

– Most of the young taking drugs are from 12 to 25 years.

– Collecting money of drug uses humpers the law and under situation

– Drug addiction spin the family and social relationship

– Such kind of problem can be prevented by taking some effective steps

Recommendation

* Open education and awareness supported by the local schools and the media.

* Personal will is the main way to get rid of addiction

* Creating more employment opportunities

* Ensuring proper treatment and rehabilitation measures

* Healthy drug free working environment

* To involve in any creative work

* To avoid mixing with bad company

* Enactment of articles on anti-drug issues in the text books and newspapers

* Media campaign against drugs

* Keep up good family relationship

* Proper family caring

*  Boosting  religious teaching

Drug abuse has become one of the greatest health and social problems in RajshahiCity having a grave impact on the society. This is a culture that has been using intoxicating substances such as cannabis and heroin for centuries and has historically accepted the use of drugs. Therefore, the overuse and abuse of the highly refined and much more potent drugs that suddenly swept the country was a shock to many.

The abuse that was once virtually unknown is now forcing society not to only acknowledge the problem but to understand it, and through its understanding, help fight against it. However, with poverty, unemployment, political instability and other problems, it is seems impossible for RajshahiCity to devoted a large measure of its energy and resources to solving a problem like drug abuse. I am distressed that RajshahiCity apparently is drowning with addiction and not much is being done to help. But through my research, I did spot one light in the vast darkness;

Chapter – C

Reference list

1. The Daily Ittefaq, October 15-30, Topics on drug addiction.

2. The Daily Star Magazine January – 2006, February 2007.

3. Jobo Samaz and Development, G.M. Chowdhury Ideal Prokasuni.

4. Saptahik 200. Volvul – 59, March – 2004

5. The Prothom Alo, 29 October, 2007

6. Internet

7. Library NAEM

Explain Causes of Hypothyroidism

Iodine is essential for thyroid health and your life, music is a significant tool for autism therapy, factors of the clients attending for birth control methods, limitations of quantum gravity phenomenology under cosmological conditions, report on saving and investment trend analysis for bangladesh, business transfer agreement letter, annual report 2003-2004 of wipro limited, pallet delivery service, synology to display solutions at computex 2023, latest post, pertussis toxin (pt), cholera toxin, barriers preventing antarctic ice melt are eroding at the double, side effects of large-scale forestation could diminish carbon removal benefits by up to one-third, atmospheric waveguide, childhood hunger is connected to subsequent eating problem symptoms.

Ask a question from expert

Assignment on Drug Abuse | Report

This course aims to provide a foundation for the critical understanding of drugs and society, exploring the various processes that shape our understanding of and policies towards drugs and drug use in historical and contemporary society.

Added on   2022-10-02

   Added on  2022-10-02

End of preview

Want to access all the pages? Upload your documents or become a member.

Drug Policy Design Portfolio - Scheduling, Medical Use, Harms and Benefits lg ...

Research proposal on international trafficking lg ..., supply, storage and disposal of medication lg ..., analysis of uk drug policy lg ..., legalization of drugs in canada: policy, law, and arguments lg ..., comparison of drug policies in uk and norway lg ....