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Momodou
Denmark
11787 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Oct 2007 : 21:54:03
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Health & Nutrition
Repercussions of Substance Abuse
By Yaya Bajo
The habit of substance abuse is not an uncommon phenomenon among the world’s youthful populations. Many people take drugs duo to medical prescriptions for various reasons which eventually lead to dependence, or addiction and other serious health implications in the long run.
For public consumption, a drug is a chemical substance used for medical or veterinary purposes. It can however, be a habit-forming narcotic which causes physiological or emotional dependence. However, drugs are really meant for preventing or treating illness. Unfortunately, however, some of these drugs are abused, that is, they are used for reasons other than the medical one.
Drugs can be conveniently classified as:
- Domestic, eg caffeine, alcohol and nicotine
- Stimulants, eg amphetamines and cocaine
- Barbiturates, eg phenobartitone and anytal
- Opiates, eg morphine and heroin
- Hallucinogens, eg cannabis and LSD
Some people find it very hard to stop using certain drugs. They are said to be addicted to or dependent on the drug. A drug addict may want to give up taking a drug but his body refuses to let him do so. Addiction to nicotine, the drug in tobacco is very common. It develops in this way. There is an urge to cough while smoking the first few cigarettes. Once this has been overcome, the nicotine produces a pleasant feeling of light-headedness and relaxation. The desire for more of such feeling brings about repetition and several cigarettes may be smoked a day. The next stage is a tolerance to nicotine when the smoker needs more cigarettes in order to get the same feeling. Prolonged and heavy smoking leads to the withdrawal stage. The smokers simply cannot do without a cigarette because of nervousness and irritability otherwise known as withdrawal symptoms, when not smoking.
The above pattern of addiction is true of almost all other addiction drugs. At the withdrawal stage, the taking of the drug is simply a habit to give relief from the withdrawal symptoms, it is rather not taken to give pleasure. The habit forces the addict to spend a lot off time and money obtaining the drug and therefore work, health, family and friends may be neglected. It is against the law to use some drugs and they cost more to obtain. This leads to robbery or prostitution in order to get enough money to buy drugs.
For domestic drugs, coffee and tea contain the drug caffeine. Caffeine tends to aid mental activity and give a slight “high” feeling. Caffeine is rarely addictive but drinking too much coffee which contain more caffeine than tea can damage the heart and kidneys.
The addiction to the drug alcohol, especially ethyl alcohol or ethanol, is one of the major social problems in many countries. Examples of alcohol drinks are beer, wine and spirits such as whisky and gin. The alcohol content of sprits is much higher than in wine and beer. Some home-made spirits are very alcoholic, sometimes not ethanol but other more harmful types of alcohol.
Alcoholis are affected in a number of ways after having taking alcohol. With a little drink, they begin to feel “high” and appear to be in a happy mood. Greater amounts affect the brain. People may lose self control and say or do things that are not normal for them. They may argue, shout or fight. They cannot rely on their memories. They may judge distances wrongly and see things in a confused manner. Their reactions may be slowed down. They are said to be drunk. When the effect of alcohol wears off, they have what is called a hangover. This involves headaches, tiredness, thirst and sickness. Some people will drink now and again with other people (social drinking) and will not suffer very much harm from if. There are, however, others who are heavy drinkers and may become alcoholics. They have a drinking problem which can be overcome by selfhelp. They need to develop a strong will power, control their drinking or give it up altogether. If it was caused, for example, by the loss of a job or the death of a marriage partner, it could be over come by a new job or remarriage respectively. Other ways of trying to solve the problem include abstinence, staying away from drinks, involvement in healthy pursuits such as games an other sporting activities.
Heavy drinking is a very bad habit and a disease. It is harmful in a number of ways:
The heart may enlarge and become less powerful
The liver cells may be destroyed, resulting in a very serious disease called cirrhosis. This kills many heavy drinkers.
· Stomach ulcers may develop
· Brain cells are destroyed and memory can be seriously affected.
· Malnutrition may develop because heavy drinkers often lack interest in food.
· Heavy drinking can lead to crime and accidents, expecially road accidents.
· It is expensive to drink. It may lead to problems because there is not enough money for the family.
· Pregnant mothers who drink often have babies with small heads below-normal intelligence. The children have distorted faces, poor eyesight and heart defects.
In addition, nicotine in tobacco is addictive and poisonous. It causes narrowing of blood vessels (arteriosclerosis). This may occur in the heart, causing a heart attack, or in the brain, causing a stroke.
Cigarette smoker contains carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas and various tars. The carbon monoxide tends to reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood of the smoker and other people who may inhale the smoke (passive smokers). This affects all tissues, particularly the brain and the heart.
The tar irritates the nose, throat and lung. Some diseases of the respiratory tract, for example bronchitis, can also develop. Smoking can cause abortions and premature births. The babies of smoking mothers are smaller in size than those of non-smokers. Nicotine in the mother’s blood may harm the foetus.
Smokers usually have a bad smell on their breath. They also cough often and do not eat well. Other harmful effects of smoking include the fact that cigarettes cost a lot of money, and also that smoking increases the risk of starting a fire.
Furthermore, hallucinogenic drugs such as cannabis is harmful in the following ways.
It acts on the nervous system and can damage the brain
It is a depressant drug (slows down the user) and causes unsteadiness.
It can produce hallucinations.
It removes the desire to work and better oneself. However, some of the its sides effects include mental disorders and difficulty in concentrating
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 116/2007, 3 - 4 October, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2007 : 16:06:20
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| momodou ,that article is very informative . |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2007 : 17:10:35
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Ah well no more tea for me then,water is OK I suppose ? 
Seriously though,this is one of the few times when I have read in print the truthful effects of Cannabis,I have seen these effects for myself in mental hospitals where the patient has been completly taken over and has become in effect mad,I am not in the medical field myself so I did not have a chance to observe if those people were able to be weaned off their love of Cannabis and become useful members of society again,MOST people seem to have formed the view that Cannabis is OK only a recreational drug,they are very very wrong I have seen the results myself.
"It's OK Bro its herbal"  should not be taken seriously its a dangerous DRUG.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 13 Oct 2007 17:13:06 |
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