Drug Abuse Prevention

Drug abuse, or excessive usage of drugs, has become a serious health concern throughout the world today. Mostly observed among teenagers and young adults, this problem has become a serious threat for the generations to follow. These drugs are broadly categorized into two groups. Psychoactive drugs - which act upon the central nervous system and cause temporary changes in consciousness and behavior, and performance enhancing drugs - which are used by individuals to enhance their performance.

Effects of Drug Abuse

The most prominent problem noticed in drug addicts is their dependence on the substance itself. This dependence can range from physical craving to a psychological need. In case of physical dependence, decreasing the intake or abstaining from the banned substance involuntarily triggers sickness, whereas as a psychological need, the person continuously depends on the substance to get the feeling of well-being. A person addicted to drugs gives it top priority in his life irrespective of what the surroundings demand. With increasing capacity, the dose needed to have the desired effect also increases. Drug abuse can also lead to diseases which are communicated through non-sterile needles, the most prominent one being HIV Aids.

Addiction to drugs have severe effects on the our body. Drug abuse can lead to irregular breathing, increase in heart rate and blood pressure. The individual may also experience sudden weight gain or weight loss.

Causes of Drug Addiction

Individuals, especially people in their teens take to drug abuse mainly because of some psychological disturbance. Disturbed childhood, negligent family, pressure to perform, broken homes, etc., are observed to be some common excuses stated by people who take to substance abuse at an early age. Easy availability of banned substances and substantial amount of pocket money also makes their journey on this wrong path easier. Initially done for fun, the abuse becomes an absolute necessity later on.

Drug Abuse Prevention

Drug abuse prevention, also known as substance abuse prevention, is a process which attempts to prevent the initiation of drug abuse and curb the problems associated with it. These preventive efforts specially focus on children between the age of 11 and 20, who are at the most risk to take to this habit. Environmental prevention of drug abuse refers to making the surroundings free of banned substances and curbing its availability in the society.

Some commonly used addictive substances include alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine and steroids. Club drugs like 'ecstasy', has become a popular trend among youngsters these days. The recent addition to substance abuse is use of solvents, or glue sniffing, which is mostly observed among children. Some medical drugs only obtained through prescription are also used more as recreational drugs than as medications. Although different types of treatments for drug abuse are available, it is wiser to prevent it, rather than treating it.

It is noticed that adolescents who are either idle or bored are more at risk of taking to drug abuse, than those who keep themselves engrossed and busy in life. Hence, the most effective way for drug abuse prevention among teenagers is to keep them interested and involved in life activities. A report on Substance Abuse Prevention by the US Center stated that "alternative programming appears to be most effective among those youth at greatest risk for substance abuse and related problems".

Youths need to be educated about the ill-effects of substance abuse. The education, based on facts, should be imparted either by trained professionals or by parents. Very often, it is noticed there are more chances of an individual taking to drug abuse when people around him indulge in it. Eventually, this sheer fun turns into an absolute necessary as the individual is engulfed in the web of narcotics.

Establishing drug-free zones can help to keep the society free from the substance abuse. A drug-free zone is a particular area in which the menace of drug trafficking has been totally curbed. Areas wherein children gather, like schools or parks, should be compulsorily made drug-free zones. Self-help groups can also work to make their locality a drug-free zone by spreading awareness and following some simple steps.

Drug abuse is one of the major problems in society today. Millions of lives have already been lost, and millions are on the verge of being lost. The need of the hour is to form and strictly implement some stringent laws and punishments to curb the menace of drug abuse.